Fungus · GBIF taxon 8197849
Xanthoria parietina
xanthoria parietinaAlso known as Yellow Wall Lichen, Maritime Sunburst Lichen, Common Sunburst Lichen, Golden Shield Lichen
Sun-bathed rocks, wooden fence posts, and urban tree trunks often host bright discs of common orange lichen. In open sunlight, this foliose lichen synthesizes parietin, a pigment that acts as a protective sunscreen, turning the leafy thallus brilliant orange. It thrives in high-nitrogen environments like agricultural areas and seabird colonies where many sensitive lichens perish.
NitrophilousFolioseOrange
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthesis via symbiotic green algae
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Mites
ThreatsSevere surface disturbance or scraping
HabitatsTree bark, wooden posts, stone walls, coastal cliffs
Life spanDecades
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderTeloschistales
- FamilyTeloschistaceae
- GenusXanthoria
- Speciesxanthoria parietina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many wild fungi have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Sunlight check: Observe green thalli in shaded spots and intense orange in full sun.
- Apothecia inspection: Look at the center for tiny raised cups that release fungal spores.
- Habitat indicator: Note its abundance near bird perches where nitrogen levels are high.
Look-alike bjoerns / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion 
Close Relative Jason Hollinger (original photograph), Papa Lima Whiskey (derivative edit) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-saClose Relative
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