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Rocky Mountain National Park
Lichens

This is a list of lichens for which there exist voucher specimens collected in Rocky Mountain National Park. Many more species should occur in the park, but currently there are few researchers working on this fascinating topic. A special thanks to Jim Bennett, USGS; the Rocky Mountain Nature Association 2004 Lichen Field Seminar class and instructor Dr. Robert Egan; the University of Colorado- Boulder Museum Online Flora Catalog; and William Weber, Emeritus Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder, for their work in the park and/ or for providing this information. A special thanks also goes to Connie and Stan Heginbotham for providing so many outstanding photos to illustrate this list.

Scientific Name
Common Name
Photo
Acarospora molybdina    
Acarospora schleicheri    
Allocetraria madreporiformis  
Arctoparmelia subcentrifuga    
Arthonia sp.    
Aspicilia caesiocinerea  
Aspicilia calcarea    
Aspicilia sublapponica    
Bacidia subincompta    
Brodoa oroarctica  
Bryoria fuscescens Pale-footed horsehair lichen
Buellia leptocline    
Caloplaca exsecuta    
Caloplaca sinapisperma    
Caloplaca sp. 1   NPS Photo
Caloplaca sp. 2    
Caloplaca sp. 3    
Caloplaca sp. 4    
Caloplaca vitellinula    
Calvitimela armeniaca    
Candelariella sp.  
Candelariella terrigena  
 
Carbonea vorticosa    
Catapyrenium daedaleum    
Cetraria aculeata  
Cetraria ericetorum
Iceland lichen
 
Cetraria islandica  
Chaenotheca ferruginea    
Chromatochlamys muscorum octospora    
Cladonia cariosa    
Cladonia cenotea
Powdered funnel lichen 
 
Cladonia cervicornis
Ladder lichen  
Cladonia chlorophaea group  
Cladonia coccifera    
Cladonia coniocraea
Common powderhorn 
Cladonia cornuta
Bighorn lichen  
 
Cladonia cornuta groenlandica    
Cladonia deformis or sulphurina    
Cladonia didyma
Southern soldiers  
 
Cladonia ecmocyna Frosted cladonia NPS Photo
Cladonia ecmocyna intermedia    
Cladonia gracilis    
Cladonia macilenta bacillaris    
Cladonia macroceras    
Cladonia macrophyllodes
Large-leaved cladonia  
 
Cladonia phyllophora    
Cladonia sp. 1    
Cladonia sp. 2    
Cladonia sp. 3    
Cladonia sp. 4    
Cladonia sulphurina    
Cypehlium notarisii    
Dermatocarpon miniatum Leather lichen  
Dermatocarpon reticulatum    
Diploschistes muscorum
Cowpie lichen  
Evernia divaricata
Mountain oakmoss lichen 
Flavocetraria cucullata  
Flavocetraria nivalis Crinkled snow lichen
Flavoparmelia caperata    
Flavoparmelia rutidota    
Hypogymnia bitteri    
Hypogymnia farinacea  
Icmadophila ericetorum    
Imshaugia aleurites    
Ionaspis lacustris    
Lasallia papulosa    
Lasallia pensylvanica    
Lecanora allophana    
Lecanora chloropolia    
Lecanora epibryon    
Lecanora impudens    
Lecanora novomexicana    
Lecanora polytropa    
Lecanora rupicola  
Lecanora sp.    
Lecanora thomsonii  
Lecidea atrobrunnea  
Lecidea promiscens    
Lecidea sp.    
Lecidea tessellata Tile lichen NPS Photo
Lecidella scabra    
Leciophysma furfurascens    
Lepraria sp.    
Melanelia exasperatula Lustrous camouflage lichen  
Melanelia glabroides    
Melanelia subolivacea
Brown-eyed camoulage lichen 
Micarea tuberculata    
Miriquidica garovaglii    
Mycobilimbia berengeriana    
Nephroma bellum    
Nephroma parile Powdery kidney lichen  
Ochrolechia upsaliensis  
Parmelia fraudans    
Parmelia saxatilis Salted shield lichen  
Parmelia sulcata Hammered shield lichen NPS Photo
Parmeliopsis ambigua
Green starburst lichen 
 
Parmeliopsis hyperopta
Gray starburst lichen 
 
Peltigera aphthosa Felt lichen
Peltigera canina Dog lichen
Peltigera collina    
Peltigera horizontalis - polydactyla    
Peltigera malacea Veinless pelt    
Peltigera rufescens Field dog lichen
Peltigera sp.   NPS Photo 
Peltigera venosa    
Phaeophyscia constipata    
Physcia stellaris
Star rosette lichen 
Physconia muscigena  
Placidium lachneum    
Placynthium nigrum    
Polyblastia cucurbitula    
Polychidium muscicola    
Porocyphus dispersus    
Porpidia superba    
Porpidia thomsonii    
Protoparmelia atriseda    
Protoparmelia badia  
Pseudephebe minuscula    
Pseudephebe pubescens?  
Psora luridella    
Psora montana    
Psoroma hypnorum
Green moss-shingle  
 
Punctelia perreticulata    
Rhizocarpon disporum    
Rhizocarpon geographicum Yellow map lichen
Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca  
Rhizoplaca melanophthalma  
Rinodina mniaraea    
Rinodina turfacea
Tundra pepper-spore lichen 
 
Schaereria cinereorufa    
Solorina crocea Orange chocolate chip lichen  
Staurothele clopimoides    
Stereocaulon sp.  
Stereocaulon tomentosum group  
Thamnolia subuliformis  
Toninia tristis    
Trapeliopsis granulosa
Mottled-disk lichen  
 
Umbilicaria americana Frosted rock tripe
Umbilicaria decussata  
Umbilicaria deusta    
Umbilicaria hyperborea Blistered rock tripe
Umbilicaria krascheninnikovii
Salty rock tripe 
Umbilicaria lyngei    
Umbilicaria torrefacta    
Umbilicaria vellea Alpine rock tripe  
Umbilicaria virginis  
Usnea cavernosa  
Usnea lapponica Powdered beard lichen NPS Photo
Vulpicida pinastri
Powdered sunshine lichen 
Vulpicida tilesii  
Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis Colorado rock-shield lichen
Xanthoparmelia coloradoensis or cumberlandia    
Xanthoparmelia sp.   NPS Photo
Xanthoparmelia wyomingica Shingled rock-shield lichen
Xanthoria sorediata    

* Photo courtesy of Connie and Stan Heginbotham

A photo of arrowheads that archeologists found in the park.  

Did You Know?
The area now known as Rocky Mountain National Park has been occupied by human beings for 10,000 years. Archeologists have found more than 300 prehistoric sites at elevations ranging from 8,000 to 13,000 feet above sea level.
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Last Updated: January 23, 2007 at 15:40 EST