(Polycauliona polycarpa)
The Pincushion Sunburst Lichen is a very pretty lichen that grows all over the Pacific Northwest. Found on dead and living twigs and in the axils of wide-spreading branches, quite often found on fruit trees and hardwoods. Shaded specimens take on a light yellow hue. The small, yellow, tightly-knit clusters of apothecia help in its identification. Its Latin name is Xanthoria polycarpa.
The thallus is yellow, small, and round-shaped with abundant apothecia. It is usually in the range of 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm in diameter. The lobes are convex and pale greenish at the margins. The lobes are branched and narrow; they widen towards the apex, reaching a width of 1 mm. The undersurface is white with short attachment structures. Overall, it is brittle to the touch.
When the sun comes out after a rain and shines on The Pincushion Sunburst Lichen, it’s an awesome sight, a feast for the eyes.