Physconia muscigena

Physconia muscigena
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Caliciales
Family:	Physciaceae
Genus:	Physconia
Species:	P. muscigena
Binomial name
Physconia muscigena (Ach.) Poelt (1965)
Synonyms
Parmelia muscigenaAch. (1810)

Physconia muscigena is a species of lichen in the family Physciaceae. It exhibits a foliose growth form with lobes that are generally ascending and concave at the tips. ^[2] The upper cortex is grey-brown to brown in color and often mostly to completely pruinose (or covered in calcium oxalate crystals known as pruina). ^[2]

Ecology and distribution

Physconia muscigena is often found growing mosses, small plants (such as Selaginella ), or detritus atop of soil or rock. ^[2] Its distribution is cosmopolitan, found on all continents including Antarctica. ^[3]

References

1. NatureServe. "Physconia muscigena". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
2. "Consortium of Lichen Herbaria – Physconia muscigena". lichenportal.org. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
3. Orekhova, Alla; Marečková, Michaela; Hazdrová, Jana; Barták, Miloš (1 January 2018). "The effect of upper cortex absence on spectral reflectance indices in Antarctic lichens during thallus dehydration". Czech Polar Reports. 8 (1): 107–118. doi: 10.5817/CPR2018-1-8 .