Chlorine Dust Lichen vs

Chrysothrix chlorina compared with Chrysothrix candelaris

Key Differences

Chlorine Dust Lichen is Extinct while is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chlorine Dust Lichen
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class same	Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniomycetes)	Arthoniomycetes (Arthoniomycetes)
Order same	Arthoniales (Arthoniales)	Arthoniales (Arthoniales)
Family same	Chrysotrichaceae	Chrysotrichaceae
Genus same	Chrysothrix	Chrysothrix
Species	Chrysothrix chlorina	Chrysothrix candelaris

Evolutionary Relationship

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

ดู: Genus: Chrysothrix

Conservation Status

Chlorine Dust Lichen

EX — Extinct

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chlorine Dust Lichen
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).

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

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.

Chrysothrix candelaris, commonly known as the gold dust lichen or egg yolk lichen, is a distinctive sorediate crustose lichen formed by the mutualistic association of a fungal partner (Chrysothrix candelaris, class Arthoniomycetes) with green algal photobionts. The lichen is immediately recognizable by its bright chrome-yellow to yellow-orange powdery soredia — granular reproductive propagules — which form a continuous farinose crust on the bark of acidic-barked trees, rock surfaces, and decaying wood in shaded, humid conditions. The vivid yellow color is due to calycin and other xanthone pigments. C. candelaris is widely distributed across Europe, North America, and South America, growing on smooth-barked deciduous and coniferous trees, boulders, and cliff faces in woodland and boreal forest habitats. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its broad distribution and tolerance of a range of microhabitats. The lichen serves as a bioindicator of old-growth forest conditions and is sometimes used in air quality monitoring, as it is moderately sensitive to sulfur dioxide pollution. C. candelaris reproduces vegetatively through the dispersal of soredia by wind, water, and animals, which carry photobiont and mycobiont cells together.