# Hypogymnia physodes

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Species of lichen in the family Parmeliaceae

Hypogymnia physodes Conservation status Secure (NatureServe)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Lecanorales Family: Parmeliaceae Genus: Hypogymnia Species: H. physodes Binomial name Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. (1896) Synonyms Lichen physodes L. (1753)

***Hypogymnia physodes***, commonly known as the **monk's-hood lichen**, is a species of [foliose lichen](/source/Foliose_lichen) in the family [Parmeliaceae](/source/Parmeliaceae). It is a common and widespread species in [boreal](/source/Boreal_forest) and [temperate](/source/Temperate) forests of the [Northern Hemisphere](/source/Northern_Hemisphere). It has a grey to yellowish-green [thallus](/source/Thallus) that is loosely attached to its [substrate](/source/Substrate_(biology)) and forms large irregular patches. Hollow lobes are 2–3mm wide. The outer edge turns up and is frequently covered with white powdery [soredia](/source/Soredia) underneath. Its lower surface is black, wrinkled and has some browning toward the lobe margins. The [pycnidia](/source/Pycnidia) are black and abundant, and their presence creates a pepper-like effect across the upper surface.[2] Because of its abundance and its moderate sensitivity to [sulphur dioxide](/source/Sulphur_dioxide) and [heavy metals](/source/Heavy_metals), *Hypogymnia physodes* is often used in [bioindicator](/source/Bioindicator) and [biomonitoring](/source/Biomonitoring) studies that enable the assessment of [air pollution](/source/Air_pollution) and other environmental conditions.[3][4]

## Extract

*Hypogymnia physodes* extract is recognised as having pharmacological potential. Its major component is [physodic acid](/source/Physodic_acid), which is able to cross the [blood-brain barrier](/source/Blood-brain_barrier).[5]

## See also

- [List of lichens named by Carl Linnaeus](/source/List_of_lichens_named_by_Carl_Linnaeus)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NS_1-0)** [NatureServe](/source/NatureServe). ["*Hypogymnia physodes*"](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.121872/). *NatureServe Explorer*. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 17 September 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brodo_et_al._2001_2-0)** Brodo, Irwin M.; Sharnoff, Sylvia Duran; Sharnoff, Stephen (2001). *Lichens of North America*. Yale University Press. p. 354. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0300082494](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0300082494).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hauck_et_al._2013_3-0)** Hauck, Markus; Böning, Janina; Jacob, Mascha; Dittrich, Sebastian; Feussner, Ivo; Leuschner, Christoph (2013). "Lichen substance concentrations in the lichen *Hypogymnia physodes* are correlated with heavy metal concentrations in the substratum". *Environmental and Experimental Botany*. **85**: 58–63. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2013EnvEB..85...58H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013EnvEB..85...58H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.envexpbot.2012.08.011](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.envexpbot.2012.08.011).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Herzig_et_al._1989_4-0)** Herzig, R.; Liebendörfer, L.; Urech, M.; Ammann, K.; Cuecheva, M.; Landolt, W. (1989). "Passive Biomonitoring with Lichens as a Part of an Integrated Biological Measuring System for Monitoring Air Pollution in Switzerland". *International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry*. **35** (1): 43–57. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1989IJEAC..35...43H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989IJEAC..35...43H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/03067318908028377](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F03067318908028377).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cancers2021_5-0)** Studzińska-Sroka, E; Majchrzak-Celińska, A; Zalewski, P; Szwajgier, D; Baranowska-Wójcik, E; Żarowski, M; Plech, T; Cielecka-Piontek, J (5 April 2021). ["Permeability of *Hypogymnia physodes* Extract Component-Physodic Acid through the Blood-Brain Barrier as an Important Argument for Its Anticancer and Neuroprotective Activity within the Central Nervous System"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8038629). *Cancers*. **13** (7): 1717. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3390/cancers13071717](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fcancers13071717). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [8038629](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8038629). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [33916370](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33916370).

Taxon identifiers Hypogymnia physodes Wikidata: Q881824 Wikispecies: Hypogymnia physodes AusLichen: 30022136 BioLib: 125104 CoL: 6MR42 EPPO: HYGYPH GBIF: 7247635 iNaturalist: 117971 IndexFungorum: 366574 IRMNG: 11053328 ITIS: 190682 MycoBank: 366574 NatureServe: 2.121872 NBN: NBNSYS0000018536 NCBI: 87259 Observation.org: 18512 Open Tree of Life: 583552 PLANTS: HYPH60 SpeciesFungorum: 366574 TaiCOL: t0041053 WoRMS: 382457 Lichen physodes Wikidata: Q21976101 CoL: 727WR GBIF: 3403370 IndexFungorum: 394352 IRMNG: 10779466 MycoBank: 394352 SpeciesFungorum: 394352

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hypogymnia physodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypogymnia_physodes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypogymnia_physodes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.