{{Short description|Species of lichen}} {{italic title}} {{Speciesbox | image = Gold Dust Lichen (3816260916).jpg | image_caption = | status = G5 | status_system = TNC | status_ref = <ref name=NS>{{cite NatureServe |id=2.127401 |title=''Chrysothrix candelaris'' |access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref> | taxon = Chrysothrix candelaris | authority = (L.) J.R.Laundon (1981) | synonyms = *''Byssus candelaris'' <small>L. (1753)</small> *''Lichen flavus'' <small>Schreb. (1771)</small> *''Lepraria flava'' <small>(Schreb.) Ach. (1798)</small> *''Lepraria candelaria''<small>(L.) Fr. (1824)</small> *''Crocynia flava'' <small>(Schreb.) Hue (1924)</small> }}
'''''Chrysothrix candelaris''''', commonly known as the '''mustard powder lichen'''<ref name="Dobson">Dobson, Frank S. ''Common British Lichens''. Pub. Norwich:Jarrold Colour Publication. p. 14.</ref> or '''gold dust lichen''',<ref name="Brodo et al. 2001"/> is a species of leprose (powdery) lichen in the family Chrysothricaceae. It typically grows on tree bark, although it has also been recorded growing on rock. It does not show ascocarps or other reproductive structures, belonging to the group commonly known as the 'Fungi or lichens imperfecti' in the UK.<ref>[http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/mycoheritage/doidge/ch04s03.html Lichenes Imperfectae]</ref><ref name="Alvin">Alvin, Kenneth L. (1977), ''The Observer's Book of Lichens''. London : Frederick Warne. {{ISBN|0-7232-1566-9}}. p. 182.</ref>
== Distribution == This lichen is widespread and common in the United Kingdom, where it occurs on the bark of deciduous trees, especially rugged old specimens, such as sycamore, alder, oak, willow, beech, and pine species,<ref>[http://www.lichenology.info/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=atlas_frm&newId=550 Lichenology]</ref> normally in dry shaded parts. and occasionally on the sheltered faces of siliceous rocks.<ref name="Silverside">[http://www.lichens.lastdragon.org/Chrysothrix_candelaris.html Alan Silverside's lichens]</ref> It is found in North America, Scotland,<ref name="Silverside"/> Hungary,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/checklists/europe/hungary_l.htm |title=Hungarian lichens |access-date=2009-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613174736/http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/checklists/europe/hungary_l.htm |archive-date=2007-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Iran,<ref>Seaward MRD, Sipman HJM, Schultz M, Maassoumi AA, Anbaran MHM, Sohrabi M. (2004). A preliminary lichen checklist for Iran. ''Willdenowia'' '''34'''(2): 543–576.</ref> Latvia<ref>[http://latvijas.daba.lv/saraksti/keerpji/latvia_index_species1.html#Calicium Latvia lichen records]</ref> and has been recorded in the Cape Verde Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/checklists/lichens/africa/cape-verde_l.htm |title=Cape Verde Islands check list of lichens. |access-date=2009-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606044030/http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/checklists/lichens/africa/cape-verde_l.htm |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Description== As suggested by its name, ''C. candelaris'' is bright yellow, orange-yellow, or greenish-yellow. It has a powdery (leprose) appearance, a superficial thallus and lacks apothecia and isidia.<ref name="Lichens">[http://ocid.nacse.org/classroom/lichens/denison/fig9.html Lichens] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820213521/http://ocid.nacse.org/classroom/lichens/denison/fig9.html |date=2008-08-20 }}</ref> Because its thallus is made entirely of powdery soredia that covers the substrate like a crust, ''Chrysothrix candelaris'' is a leprose lichen.<ref name="Brodo et al. 2001"/>
Laundon described three chemotypes of this species: one with the chemical cyclin, one with {{chem name|pinastric acid}}, and a third with both of these compounds.<ref name="Laundon 1981"/>
== Life cycle == Lacking apothecia, soredia and isidia, ''C. candelaris'' is not able to reproduce by spores, but spreads by its thallus becoming distributed by the wind, the feet of animals, etc. to suitable habitats.<ref name="Lichens"/>
==Miscellaneous== This lichen can be used as an indicator to monitor air quality.
==See also== * List of lichens named by Carl Linnaeus
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Brodo et al. 2001">{{cite book |first1=Irwin M. |last1=Brodo |first2=Sylvia Duran |last2=Sharnoff |first3=Stephen |last3=Sharnoff |title=Lichens of North America |year=2001 |publisher=Yale University Press |page=223 |isbn=978-0300082494}}</ref>
<ref name="Laundon 1981">{{cite journal |last=Laundon |first=J.R. |title=The species of ''Chrysothrix'' |journal=The Lichenologist |volume=13 |issue=2 |year=1981 |doi=10.1017/s0024282981000169 |pages=101–121}}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5114965}}
candelaris Category:Lichens described in 1753 Category:Lichens of Europe Category:Lichens of Macaronesia Category:Lichens of North America Category:Lichen species Category:Fungal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus