Polycauliona coralloides, the coral firedot lichen, is a species of small fruticose (bushy), saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. First formally described in 1866, it was later shuffled to a few different genera in its taxonomic history before ending up in Polycauliona, a genus resurrected from taxonomic obscurity in the molecular phylogenetics era. The lichen occurs on seaside rocks in the intertidal spray zone of California and northwestern Mexico. The species is readily recognized due to its distinctive coral-like form–its thallus grows as a tangle of orange, filamentous branches.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Coral Firedot Lichen being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
Classification
- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Ascomycota
- Class
- Lecanoromycetes
- Order
- Teloschistales
- Family
- Teloschistaceae
- Genus
- Polycauliona
- Species
- Polycauliona coralloides
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