Rock Greenshield Lichen – 4/23/25

Observer: Paul Lauenstein

Observation Date: 7/17/10

Observation Time: 9:10 a.m.

Observation Location: near Gavins Pond

Common Name: Rock Greenshield Lichen

Scientific Name: Flavoparmelia caperata

Comments: Lichens actually consist of two life forms – algae and fungi – living together symbiotically. The algae provides sugars by photosynthesis. The lichen provides the structure and nutrients from the rock or other substrate upon which it grows.

The rock greenshield lichen looks very much like the closely related common greenshield lichen, but true to its name, it grows on rocks (only occasionally on tree bases), while the common greenshield lichen is almost always found on wood (bark) (almost never on rocks).

More Information: Missouri Dept. of Conservation and Wikipedia