Xanthoparmelia epigaea


Xanthoparmelia epigaea is a species of terricolous, foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in Southern Africa, it was formally described as a new species in 1986 by the American lichenologist Mason Hale. The type specimen was collected from Cape Province at an elevation of, where it was found growing in a flat pasture on soil, quartzite pebbles, and schist. The lichen has a light yellowish thallus that measures in diameter, although neighbouring colonies can join together and cover more extensive areas. It contains constipatic acid and associated fatty acids, and usnic acid.