Fungus
Burning Finger Lichen
Dufourea flammeaAlso known as Orange Finger Lichen, Flame Lichen
Burning finger lichen forms dense tufts of vibrant orange, finger-like lobes that project outward from coastal boulders and maritime chaparral shrubs along the Pacific fog belt. Its intense anthraquinone pigments act as a natural sunscreen, shielding the delicate symbiotic green algae within from harsh ultraviolet radiation. The thallus absorbs moisture and trace minerals directly from dense sea fog rolling off the cold ocean.
LichenizedFog SpecialistVibrant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGreen algae (photobiont), Airborne moisture, Atmospheric minerals
Predators
- Mites
- Snails
- Barklice
ThreatsCoastal development, air pollution, severe wildfire
HabitatsMaritime rocks, coastal scrub, fog-drenched bluffs
Life spanDecades to centuries
Classification
- FamilyTeloschistaceae
- SpeciesDufourea flammea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Tread Carefully: Watch where you step on coastal rock outcrops to avoid crushing delicate thalli.
- Morning Fog: Observe during damp conditions when the swollen lobes appear most vibrant.
Neighbor (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Neighbor (c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family Rosser1954 Roger Griffith / Public domain · cc0
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.