Manyleaf Navel Lichen: A Fascinating Natural Indicator You Might Already Have
Have you ever noticed those flat, leafy-looking patches growing on rocks in your yard or nearby natural areas? You might be looking at the manyleaf navel lichen (Umbilicaria polyphylla), a remarkable organism that’s neither plant nor animal, but something wonderfully unique.
What Exactly Is Manyleaf Navel Lichen?
Despite its name containing leaf, this isn’t actually a plant at all! Umbilicaria polyphylla is a lichen – a fascinating partnership between fungi and algae that work together as one organism. The manyleaf part of its name comes from its distinctive lobed, leaf-like appearance, while navel refers to the single central point where it attaches to rock surfaces.
This species is native to North America and has been quietly doing its thing on rocks and boulders across boreal and temperate regions for countless years. You might also see it referred to by its scientific synonym, Gyrophora polyphylla.
Where You’ll Find It
Manyleaf navel lichen makes its home primarily on acidic rocks in cooler, more northern regions of North America. It’s particularly fond of exposed rock faces, boulders, and cliff surfaces where it can get the moisture and clean air it needs to thrive.
Is It Beneficial to Have Around?
Absolutely! While you can’t exactly plant manyleaf navel lichen in your garden, having it naturally occur on your property is actually a great sign. Here’s why it’s beneficial:
- It’s an excellent indicator of clean air quality – lichens are very sensitive to air pollution
- It helps prevent soil erosion by stabilizing rock surfaces
- It contributes to the slow process of breaking down rocks into soil over time
- It adds natural beauty and ecological diversity to rocky areas
How to Identify Manyleaf Navel Lichen
Spotting this lichen is easier than you might think once you know what to look for:
- Appearance: Gray-green to brownish, flat, leaf-like lobes
- Size: Individual specimens can range from a few inches to several inches across
- Attachment: Look for that characteristic single central attachment point – the navel
- Texture: The surface appears somewhat leathery or papery
- Location: Always found growing directly on rock surfaces, never on soil or wood
Should You Encourage It?
The wonderful thing about lichens like Umbilicaria polyphylla is that they don’t require any encouragement from you – they’ll appear naturally if conditions are right. In fact, trying to help them usually does more harm than good.
If you have suitable rocky areas on your property and you’re seeing these lichens appear naturally, congratulations! It means your local air quality is good enough to support these sensitive organisms. The best thing you can do is simply leave them alone to do their quiet, important work.
A Living Air Quality Monitor
Perhaps the coolest thing about having manyleaf navel lichen around is that it serves as your own personal air quality monitoring system. These lichens are like nature’s canaries in coal mines – they’re among the first organisms to disappear when air pollution increases, and among the first to return when air quality improves.
So next time you’re walking around your property or hiking in rocky areas, take a moment to appreciate these humble but remarkable organisms. They may not have flashy flowers or dramatic seasonal changes, but they’re quietly contributing to the health and beauty of our natural spaces – and telling us important stories about the quality of the air we all breathe.
