General:
Common Name: The Rockbright Lichens. Describes the habitat and brightly coloured upper surface of the species.
Small stratified foliose lichens (ours), umbilicate, rotund, corticate above and below, nonsorediate, nonisidiate, lobes poorly developed, entire thallus averaging to 1–2 cm across, thin to thick. Upper surface whitish or pale greenish. Lower surface pale, brownish or blue-black, lacking rhizines. Medulla white. Photobiont green.
Apothecia located over upper surface, usually numerous, disc even, pinkish or brownish to greenish or blackish; spores simple, ellipsoid, colourless, 8 per ascus.
Over acid or base-rich rock.
Notes: Rhizoplaca is primarily a genus of temperate latitudes where it is best represented in semi-arid regions. Of the six species reported for North America, only three occur in B.C.

Species description:
Lower surface continuous or, if cracked, then cracks radial (i.e., never forming distinct netlike pattern); apothecial margins often pruinose, discs pinkish orange, greenish, brownish, or rarely black; medulla PD+ yellow or PD- AND
Apothecial discs at least in part pale or bright orangish or pinkish orange

Reactions:
Medulla PD- or rarely PD+ yellow.

Contents:
Usnic, (placodiolic, pseudoplacodiolic and psoromic acids).

Source:  Lichens of British Columbia

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Illustration By:  Trevor Goward

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Lecanora chrysoleuca (Sm.) Ach.
Lecanora rubina (Vill.) Ach.