Finger Ring Lichen
Arctoparmelia incurva
Arctoparmelia incurva is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. First described in 1794 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, it has undergone several taxonomic reclassifications before being placed in its current genus in 1986.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctoparmelia_incurva
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Parmeliaceae
Genus
Arctoparmelia
Finger Ring Lichen belongs to the family Parmeliaceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Arctoparmelia incurva is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling), foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. First described in 1794 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, it has undergone several taxonomic reclassifications before being placed in its current genus in 1986. This yellowish-green lichen, characterised by its narrow, convex lobes and globular soralia, typically grows on sun-exposed siliceous rocks in alpine and arctic habitats. It has a circumpolar distribution, found across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. A. incurva can be distinguished from similar species by its specific morphological features and chemical spot test reactions. The lichen is known to host several parasitic fungi and has shown tolerance to acid pollution.
Finger Ring Lichen (Arctoparmelia incurva) is critically endangered primarily due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from air pollution, climate change, and human disturbance to its specialized rocky substrate habitats. Its slow growth rate and specific ecological requirements make recovery particularly challenging.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Arctoparmelia incurva grows on sun-exposed siliceous rocks, and very rarely on wood. It is tolerant of acid pollution. It is widely distributed in Europe, where it has been recorded from 19 countries. In North America its range is mainly arctic, with records documented as far south as southern British Columbia and the Cascade Range. Researchers have also reported it in the Appalachians and the...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Finger Ring Lichen (Arctoparmelia incurva) is critically endangered primarily due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from air pollution, climate change, and human disturbance to its specialized rocky substrate habitats. Its slow growth rate and specific ecological requirements make recovery particularly challenging.
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Extremely limited population size and distribution
Habitat destruction from quarrying and development
Recreational activities and trampling
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). Finger Ring Lichen (Arctoparmelia incurva). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/finger-ring-lichen