''Physcia rhizinata'' is a species of

corticolous This glossary of mycology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to mycology, the study of fungi. Terms in common with other fields, if repeated here, generally focus on their mycology-specific meaning. Related terms can be found ...

(bark-dwelling), lichenized fungus in the family

Physciaceae The Physciaceae are a family of mostly lichen-forming fungi belonging to the class Lecanoromycetes in the division Ascomycota. A 2016 estimate placed 19 genera and 601 species in the family. Description The Physiaceae family includes various ...

. It is a "typically fertile species lacking asexual propagules" commonly mistaken for '' P. stellaris'' due to their physical similarities. It has a close evolutionary relationship with ''P. occidentalis'' despite being morphologically dissimilar. ''Physcia rhizinata'' is only known to be found in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. At least one specimen has been located in a canyon of the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area owned by the

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands, U.S. federal lands. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the BLM oversees more than of land, or one ...

in a canyon live oak forest.

References

rhizinata Lichens of the United States Lichens described in 2020 Lichen species Taxa named by Bruce McCune Taxa named by Theodore Lee Esslinger {{Caliciales-stub