Manyroot Navel Lichen: A Fascinating Natural Indicator You Can’t Grow (But Should Appreciate)
Have you ever stumbled across what looks like a dark, crusty pancake stuck to a rock and wondered what on earth it could be? Meet the manyroot navel lichen (Umbilicaria polyrrhiza), one of nature’s most intriguing organisms that’s neither plant nor animal, but something wonderfully in-between.
What Exactly Is Manyroot Navel Lichen?
Let’s clear up the confusion right away: despite its name containing lichen, Umbilicaria polyrrhiza isn’t something you can plant in your garden. Lichens are actually fascinating partnerships between fungi and algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria), working together in perfect harmony. The manyroot navel lichen gets its quirky name from its distinctive belly-button-like attachment point and the multiple root-like structures (rhizines) that help anchor it to rock surfaces.
This remarkable organism is native to North America and has been quietly doing its thing on rocky surfaces for thousands of years. You might also encounter it in scientific literature under its synonyms Actinogyra polyrrhiza or Gyrophora polyrrhiza, but don’t let the fancy names intimidate you.
Where You’ll Find This Rocky Resident
Manyroot navel lichen calls the cooler regions of northern North America home, particularly thriving in boreal and alpine environments. You’re most likely to spot these dark, circular beauties clinging to acidic rock surfaces in areas with clean air and adequate moisture.
How to Identify Manyroot Navel Lichen
Spotting Umbilicaria polyrrhiza is like finding nature’s own artistic medallions scattered across the landscape. Here’s what to look for:
- Dark gray to blackish, circular patches on rock surfaces
- Foliose (leaf-like) structure that’s attached at a central point
- Distinctive navel or umbilicate attachment point
- Multiple root-like structures (rhizines) visible on the underside
- Typically found on acidic rocks in cool, humid environments
Is It Beneficial to Have Around Your Garden?
While you can’t cultivate manyroot navel lichen (trust us, many have tried and failed), its presence near your property is actually fantastic news! These lichens are like nature’s air quality monitors. Their sensitivity to air pollution means that if you’re seeing healthy populations of Umbilicaria polyrrhiza on nearby rocks, you’re breathing some pretty clean air.
Lichens also play important ecological roles by:
- Breaking down rock surfaces and contributing to soil formation over time
- Providing habitat and food sources for various small organisms
- Serving as indicators of ecosystem health
- Adding natural beauty and diversity to rocky landscapes
Why You Can’t (and Shouldn’t Try to) Grow It
Here’s where we break some hearts: manyroot navel lichen isn’t available at your local nursery, and there’s a good reason for that. These organisms have incredibly specific requirements that are nearly impossible to replicate artificially. They need just the right combination of clean air, specific moisture levels, appropriate rock chemistry, and time – lots and lots of time. We’re talking decades to centuries for full establishment.
Attempting to transplant lichens typically results in their death, so it’s best to appreciate them where they naturally occur.
Appreciating Nature’s Slow Artists
Instead of trying to bring manyroot navel lichen into your garden, consider yourself lucky if you encounter these remarkable organisms during hikes or nature walks. Take photos, marvel at their resilience, and remember that you’re looking at one of nature’s most successful partnerships – one that’s been perfecting its craft for millions of years.
If you’re interested in supporting lichen diversity in your area, focus on reducing air pollution and maintaining natural rock habitats. Sometimes the best gardening is simply leaving nature alone to do what it does best.
The next time you’re out exploring rocky terrain and spot these dark, medallion-like organisms, take a moment to appreciate the manyroot navel lichen. They may not be the showiest organisms in nature, but they’re certainly some of the most remarkable survivors you’ll ever encounter.
