Umbilicaria virginis
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| Umbilicaria virginis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Umbilicariales |
| Family: | Umbilicariaceae |
| Genus: | Umbilicaria |
| Species: | U. virginis |
| Binomial name | |
| Umbilicaria virginis Schaer. (1842) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Umbilicaria virginis, commonly known as the blushing rock tripe, is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) umbilicate lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It occurs in polar and alpine regions.
In 1841 the famous paleontologist and glaciologist Louis Agassiz led a group that climbed to the peak of the mountain Jungfrau in the Swiss Bernese Alps – an elevation of 4,158 m (13,642 ft). There they collected some high-altitude lichens found growing on exposed rocks; these specimens were later sent to Swiss pastor and lichenologist Ludwig Schaerer for further study. He determined that several of the species were already known from other alpine locations, but a new species he named Umbilicaria virginis to refer to the type locality (Jungfrau means "maiden" or "virgin" in German).[3]
In North America, a vernacular name used for the species is "blushing rock tripe".[4]