Chlorine Dust Lichen vs Common Gold-Dust

Chrysothrix chlorina compared with Chrysothrix xanthina

Key Differences

• Chlorine Dust Lichen is Extinct while Common Gold-Dust is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chlorine Dust Lichen	Common Gold-Dust
Kingdom same	Fungi (Pilze)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)
Class same	Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniomycetes)	Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniomycetes)
Order same	Arthoniales (Arthoniales)	Arthoniales (Arthoniales)
Family same	Chrysotrichaceae	Chrysotrichaceae
Genus same	Chrysothrix	Chrysothrix
Species	Chrysothrix chlorina	Chrysothrix xanthina

Evolutionary Relationship

Chlorine Dust Lichen and Common Gold-Dust share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Chrysothrix.

Conservation Status

Chlorine Dust Lichen

EX — Extinct

Common Gold-Dust

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chlorine Dust Lichen	Common Gold-Dust
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chlorine Dust Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

Common Gold-Dust

Habitat

Native to North America and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Colombia, and United States.

Chlorine Dust Lichen

The Chlorine Dust Lichen (Chrysothrix chlorina) is a crustose lichen in the family Chrysotrichaceae, historically known from calcareous and siliceous rock surfaces and bark in parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom. It belongs to the genus Chrysothrix, a group of powdery, granular lichens that form bright yellow to greenish-yellow leprose thalli — lacking the organised cortex layers of most lichens — composed largely of granular soredia. Chrysothrix species produce unique secondary metabolites including rhizocarpic acid, which contributes to their intense yellow colouration and may serve as protection against grazing invertebrates. The Chlorine Dust Lichen takes its name from the sharp, bleach-like or chlorine odour emitted when the thallus is moistened — a distinctive diagnostic feature. The IUCN has assessed this species as Extinct in Great Britain, where it was historically recorded from ancient woodland and shaded rock sites but has not been confirmed in recent decades. Its apparent extinction in parts of its former range is attributed primarily to severe air quality degradation during the industrial era, as many crustose lichens are highly sensitive to sulphur dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. It may persist in small areas of cleaner air, and improved air quality since deindustrialisation offers some hope for natural recolonisation.

Common Gold-Dust

<em>Chrysothrix xanthina</em>, commonly known as common gold-dust, is a crustose lichen in the family Chrysotrichaceae. The species has been documented in Brazil, Colombia, and the United States, indicating a distribution across parts of South and North America. Lichens in the genus <em>Chrysothrix</em> are characterized by their powdery, brightly colored thallus, and <em>C. xanthina</em> is typically recognized by its distinctive yellow-gold granular coating on its substrate, produced by pigments including calycin and vulpinic acid. <em>Chrysothrix xanthina</em> typically grows on the bark of trees and occasionally on rock surfaces in humid forest and woodland habitats, where it forms conspicuous yellow patches. The species is not currently evaluated for conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. As a lichen, <em>Chrysothrix xanthina</em> represents a symbiotic association between a fungal partner (mycobiont) and one or more photosynthetic partners (algae or cyanobacteria), and contributes to nutrient cycling and substrate weathering in the ecosystems it inhabits.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇺🇸 United States