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Lichens on rock

 

 

Most of us have surely noticed the golden shield lichen. Truly well adapted to growing also in polluted air, in dusty or acidic environments; its growth is favoured by nitrogen. Habitats near city people are concrete columns, asbestos cement roofs and house walls; urban trees and branches, whether broadleaf or coniferous. In addition to the urban environments we find the golden shield lichen in farm yards.

 

On roadside rocks at dusty gravel roads, on big shore boulders on which birds are in the habit of sitting  and so are generously fertilized.

 

In sunny habitats the thallus is orange-coloured, growing in shade paler, yellowish green.

 

Eight Xanthoria species grow in Estonia; Caloplaca species, also orange or yellow crust-forming lichens, are about forty in Estonia.