List of Lichens

Go through this list of lichens, which includes crust-like rock colonizers and hanging beard species, and find the one you spotted on bark, stone, or soil.

View by

103 lichen

gray reindeer lichen

Cladonia rangiferina

wolf lichen

Letharia vulpina

island cetraria lichen

Cetraria islandica

Oakmoss lichen

Evernia prunastri

Common greenshield lichen

Flavoparmelia caperata

Lace lichen

Ramalina menziesii

orange wall lichen

Xanthoria parietina

Black Stone Flower

Parmotrema perlatum

shield lichen

Parmelia sulcata

Florida beard lichen

Usnea florida

strigose beard lichen

Usnea strigosa

lung lichen

Lobaria pulmonaria

tree moss

Pseudevernia furfuracea

world map lichen

Rhizocarpon geographicum

Star-tipped Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia stellaris

pencilmark lichen

Graphis scripta

cup lichen

Cladonia cristatella

eggyolk lichen

Candelariella vitellina

Old Man's Beard

Dolichousnea longissima

Frosted Rock Tripe

Umbilicaria americana

navel lichen

Umbilicaria mammulata

farinose cartilage lichen

Ramalina farinacea

cup lichen

Cladonia fimbriata

dot lichen

Arthonia radiata

shield lichen

Parmelia saxatilis

starry rosette lichen

Physcia stellaris

witch's hair lichen

Alectoria sarmentosa

lemon lichen

Candelaria concolor

dust lichen

Chrysothrix candelaris

Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia arbuscula

cup lichen

Cladonia pyxidata

dust lichen

Lepraria incana

membraneous felt lichen

Peltigera membranacea

wreath lichen

Phaeophyscia orbicularis

Tiny button lichen

Amandinea punctata

Coniocarpon cinnabarinum

cracked lichen

Acarospora socialis

Arthonia ilicina

rimmed lichen

Aspicilia cinerea

dotted lichen

Bacidia rubella

cap lichen

Baeomyces rufus

Six-celled Moss Dot Lichen

Bilimbia sabuletorum

Spiny gray horsehair lichen

Bryoria nadvornikiana

Gray horsehair lichen

Bryoria capillaris

Disc lichen

Buellia aethalea

spike lichen

Calicium viride

tiny firedot lichen

Calogaya pusilla

needle lichen

Chaenotheca chlorella

Bark barnacles

Thelotrema lepadinum

Brown cobblestone lichen

Acarospora fuscata

Acolium karelicum

Cupped Soot Lichen

Acolium inquinans

witch's hair lichen

Alectoria ochroleuca

Worm Lichen

Alyxoria culmigena

Scribble lichen

Alyxoria ochrocheila

Alyxoria demutata

Alyxoria varia

Great Ciliated Lichen

Anaptychia ciliaris

Anaptychia runcinata

arctoparmelia lichen

Arctoparmelia centrifuga

Identify any lichen instantly with our app

Download our free app and get access to thousands of plants database with AI-powered identification

What are Lichens?

Lichens are complex organisms that represent a symbiosis between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner — typically a green alga or a cyanobacterium. The fungus provides structure and protection, and the partner produces nutrients.

All types of lichen are classified as fungi, not plants, and there are approximately 19,400 recognized species worldwide.

How Are Lichens Classified by Growth Form?

Lichen types are classified according to the form of their thallus. There are three main growth forms, which differ in their structure, method of attachment, and overall appearance:

Crustose: a flat crust fused to a rock or bark surface; it cannot be peeled off.
Foliose: leaf-like lobes, loosely attached by rhizines; these can be easily peeled off.
Fruticose: a hair-like or shrubby thallus that grows outward from a single attachment point.

Growth form	Structural characteristics	Named examples
Crustose	Flat crust, inseparable from substrate	Rhizocarpon geographicum
Foliose	Lobed, leaf-like thallus	Peltigera canina
Fruticose	Branched, shrub-like thallus	Usnea longissima

Other growth forms include squamulose (small, scale-like structures), leprose (powdery, without a well-defined outer surface), and filamentous (fine, thread-like structures).

Major Lichen Genera and Their Species Counts

The genus Cladonia is one of the most diverse — it has about 500 species, including Cladonia rangiferina. The genus Lecanora exceeds 500 species, while Usnea contains about 130, and Peltigera consists of approximately 100. The genus Xanthoria includes 19 species, among which is the well-known X. parietina.

Species of the genera Lecanora and Xanthoria typically grow on tree bark or rocks, and Usnea hangs from branches. Cladonia and Peltigera prefer to grow in the soil or among mosses. Use the lichen images provided in the grid above to find a preferred species.

8 min read · 1 Oct 2026

Lemon Tree Leaves Turning Yellow: Causes and How to Fix It

Yellow leaves are one of the most common lemon tree problems. This guide explains eight causes of lemon tree leaves turning yellow, from overwatering to root rot, with a fix for each.

Plant Problems

8 min read · 7 Oct 2026

Plants That Look Like Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has a familiar rosette of thick, pointed leaves, but many other plants look similar at first glance. This guide compares 15 look-alikes and highlights the visual traits that distinguish each one from Aloe vera.

Identification

8 min read · 11 Jun 2026

Why Aglaonema Root Rot Happens and How to Rescue Your Plant

If your Aglaonema is wilting and turning yellow despite proper care, the problem may be root rot rather than a lack of water. This guide explains how to spot it, what causes it, and how to save your plant before the damage spreads.

Plant Problems

Explore More Plant Types

List of Lichens

Identify any lichen instantly with our app

What are Lichens?

How Are Lichens Classified by Growth Form?

Major Lichen Genera and Their Species Counts

Popular Articles

Lemon Tree Leaves Turning Yellow: Causes and How to Fix It

Plants That Look Like Aloe Vera

Why Aglaonema Root Rot Happens and How to Rescue Your Plant

Explore More Plant Types

Succulents

Flowers

Trees

Houseplants

Weeds

Fruits