Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr.
Elegant sunburst lichen, sunburst lichen, elegant orange wall lichen
Elegant sunburst lichen is an arresting species, because of its bright orange color.
Identification: Color is the principle identifier: bright orange, dark orange, or red. Though it is quite thin, this is considered a foliose (leaf-like) lichen. If it is wet, it swells. If you peel some of it up, the lower surface is white. It is found on rocks, especially where birds provide a steady source of nutrients, such as at seashores.
Habitats: Native to regions from the Arctic Circle north and the Antarctic Circle south (a circumpolar distribution), occurring on all continents except Australia as well, especially at higher elevations.
Xanthoria elegans (Link) Th. Fr., 1860 (photograph of a herbarium specimen taken through a dissecting microscope (x40) showing convex, reddish-orange lobes) Growing on rock in surf, along Highway 17, 3.4 miles N from Pancake Bay Provincial Park entrance, Ontario, Canada; collected and identified by Richard E. Riefner (No. 81-306, 27 Jun 1981); specimen is now in the Lichen Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. From Ed Uebel. 
Online References:
References:
Caloplaca elegans (Link) Th. Fr.
On granite. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) 
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/12/1988 · Trip with Ellie & Emil, Maine 
This lichen is a darker shade of orange when it is dry. · 5/3/2007 · By Rhonda Tatiana Schorer 
5/24/2024 · Monhegan Island, Maine 
On concrete. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 2½″ (7.5 × 6.6 cm) 
6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine 
3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
4/16/2017 · Whitehead Lighthouse, St. George, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) 
3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 8.6 cm) 
3/31/2013 · Marshall Point Lighthouse, Port Clyde, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
4/16/2017 · Whitehead Lighthouse, St. George, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/15/1998 · Kennebunkport, Maine 
On granite. · 2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine 
4/3/2010 · Birch Point Beach State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 3 × 2″ (7.9 × 5.3 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/15/2012 · Slipway Restaurant, Thomaston, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
2/15/2009 · Odiorne State Park, Rye, New Hampshire · ≈ 1 × 1′ (41 × 32 cm) 
| Kingdom | Fungi | Mushrooms, lichens, gel fungi, yeasts, and molds; also called eukaryotes |
| Division | Ascomycota | Sac fungi |
| Subdivision | Pezizomycotina | Sac fungi with filaments |
| Class | Lecanoromycetes | “Lichenized” fungi |
| Order | Lecanorales | Mostly lichen-forming fungi |
| Suborder | Teloschistineae | Includes Caloplaca, Fulgensia, Teloschistes, Xanthoria, others |
| Family | Teloschistaceae | Includes Caloplaca, Teleschistes, Xanthoria |
| Genus | Xanthoria | From Greek xanthos, “yellow” |
| Species | elegans | Elegant |
Xanthoria elegans description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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