About Xanthoparmelia semiviridis (F.Muell. ex Nyl.) O.Blanco, A.Crespo, Elix, D.Hawksw. & Lumbsch
Xanthoparmelia semiviridis is a rare member of the Xanthoparmelia genus that grows completely unattached to any substrate. Its thalli lack rhizines, the structures that would normally anchor the lower surface to a surface. In dry conditions, this lichen rolls up into a ball that can reach up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) in diameter, and these rolled balls can be blown around by wind. When the lichen becomes wet, the ball unrolls to form a foliose structure with dichotomous branches, and its color darkens in this wet state. While it rarely produces fruits, mature and immature fruits can occasionally be observed on some specimens. This species occurs across southern Australia, spanning from Western Australia to New South Wales, growing in semi-arid areas that receive some winter rainfall. It is also found in specific areas of New Zealand's South Island: the Molesworth area of the Marlborough region, the Balmoral and Mackenzie Country area of Canterbury, and Central Otago.
