Caloplaca luteominia var. bolanderi "Ruby Firedot Lichen"
Missoula, MT
March 14, 2014
Robert Niese
Caloplaca luteominea is a relatively common endolithic species of crust-like lichen. The little red cups that you see here (<1mm in diameter) are actually the reproductive structures (called apothecia) of the fungus. The rest of the organism lives within the rock (endo = within; lithic = rock), between the cracks and grains of the granite.
Larix occidentalis “Western Larch” Pinaceae
with Bryoria sp. “Tree-hair Lichen"
Seeley Lake, MT
September 13, 2014
Robert Niese
Larch is one of North America’s only deciduous conifers. Here in western Montana, needles are just beginning to turn yellow in mid-September.
Bryoria is a common lichen throughout the PNW and was once a common food source for more than 40 local tribes, in spite of nearly indistinguishable toxic species co-occurring throughout most of their range.
Northwest Naturalist 