Discovering Navel Lichen: A Mysterious Rock Dweller in Your Landscape
Have you ever noticed those peculiar, circular growths clinging to rocks in natural areas? You might be looking at a fascinating organism called navel lichen, scientifically known as Umbilicaria hyperborea var. radicicula. This intriguing life form isn’t actually a plant at all – it’s a lichen, which makes it one of nature’s most remarkable partnerships.
What Exactly Is Navel Lichen?
Navel lichen belongs to a group commonly called rock tripes – and yes, that name is as quirky as it sounds! These lichens get their name from their resemblance to, well, tripe (stomach lining), though they’re much more appealing to look at than that comparison suggests. The navel part comes from their distinctive umbilicate structure – they’re attached to rocks at a central point, creating a belly button-like appearance.
Like all lichens, navel lichen is actually two organisms living together: a fungus and an algae (or sometimes cyanobacteria). This partnership allows them to survive in places where neither organism could live alone, making them true pioneers of the plant world.
Where You’ll Find This Hardy Survivor
As a North American native, this particular variety of navel lichen has adapted to some pretty tough conditions. While specific distribution data for this exact variety is limited, members of the Umbilicaria family are typically found in northern regions, often in arctic and subarctic environments.
Identifying Navel Lichen
Spotting navel lichen is like going on a natural treasure hunt. Here’s what to look for:
- Circular, flat growths attached to rock surfaces
- Gray, brown, or greenish coloration
- Smooth or slightly wrinkled surface texture
- Central attachment point creating that characteristic navel appearance
- Typically found on exposed rock faces, especially granite or other hard stones
Is Navel Lichen Beneficial for Your Garden?
While you can’t exactly plant navel lichen like you would a flower or shrub, its presence in your landscape can be quite beneficial. These remarkable organisms serve as:
- Natural air quality indicators – lichens are sensitive to pollution, so their presence suggests clean air
- Slow but steady rock weathering agents, gradually breaking down stone surfaces
- Habitat for tiny invertebrates and microorganisms
- Visual interest on rock gardens, stone walls, or natural rock outcroppings
The Patient Garden Companion
If you’re lucky enough to have navel lichen naturally occurring on rocks in your landscape, consider yourself fortunate! These lichens grow incredibly slowly – we’re talking millimeters per year – making them living testaments to patience and persistence.
Rather than trying to cultivate them (which is nearly impossible), the best approach is to:
- Preserve existing lichen populations on your property
- Avoid using chemical treatments near lichen-covered rocks
- Maintain good air quality in your area
- Appreciate them as unique, low-maintenance landscape features
A Living Piece of Natural History
Navel lichen represents one of nature’s most successful survival strategies. These organisms can withstand extreme temperatures, drought, and harsh conditions that would quickly kill most other life forms. When you spot them in your landscape, you’re looking at organisms that might be decades or even centuries old.
While they won’t provide the colorful blooms or rapid growth that many gardeners seek, navel lichens offer something equally valuable: a connection to the ancient, slow rhythms of the natural world. They remind us that not everything in a garden needs to be fast-growing or showy to be worthwhile.
So the next time you’re walking through your landscape, take a moment to appreciate these quiet, persistent survivors. They’re proof that sometimes the most remarkable garden residents are the ones we never planted at all.
