Black-bordered Shingle Lichen
Parmeliella thriptophylla
The Black-bordered Shingle Lichen (Parmeliella thriptophylla) is a distinctive foliose lichen characterized by its overlapping, shingle-like lobes with dark borders that create a striking contrast against its lighter central portions. This species forms small to medium-sized rosettes on tree bark and rock surfaces, playing a crucial ecological role as a pioneer species in forest succession and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Kitty LaBounty (deceased), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kitty LaBounty (deceased)
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Peltigerales
Family
Pannariaceae
Genus
Parmeliella
Black-bordered Shingle Lichen belongs to the family Pannariaceae, order Peltigerales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
The Black-bordered Shingle Lichen (Parmeliella thriptophylla) is a distinctive foliose lichen characterized by its overlapping, shingle-like lobes with dark borders that create a striking contrast against its lighter central portions. This species forms small to medium-sized rosettes on tree bark and rock surfaces, playing a crucial ecological role as a pioneer species in forest succession and providing microhabitat for invertebrates.
The Black-bordered Shingle Lichen is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur dioxide emissions. This epiphytic lichen requires very specific environmental conditions on old-growth trees, making it extremely vulnerable to changes in air quality and forest management practices.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Parmeliella thriptophylla grows exclusively on the bark of mature deciduous trees in humid, old-growth forests with consistent moisture levels and minimal air pollution. It typically colonizes the north-facing sides of oak, maple, and beech trees in sheltered valleys and ravines where fog and mist provide optimal humidity conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Black-bordered Shingle Lichen is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur dioxide emissions. This epiphytic lichen requires very specific environmental conditions on old-growth trees, making it extremely vulnerable to changes in air quality and forest management practices.
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Habitat loss from deforestation
Loss of suitable host trees
Acid rain impacts
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black-bordered Shingle Lichen (Parmeliella thriptophylla). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-bordered-shingle-lichen