Buellia stillingiana is a crustose lichen that grows on trees, particularly oak and cedar, in East and Central Texas. It has a gray to brownish-gray thallus with numerous black apothecia, 0.2-0.5 mm in diameter. The species is common in the region, often found on shaded bark of mature trees, especially in areas with high humidity and moderate temperatures. In East Texas, it can be found in deciduous forests, while in Central Texas, it occurs in woodland edges and along streams.
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) on oak bark in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 18, 2019
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) (black) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 18, 2019
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) on an oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 18, 2019
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) on a tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, December 28, 2019 Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Common Button Lichen (Buellia stillingiana) on bark of hackberry in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, November 3, 2020
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) on hackberry(?) tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, November 24, 2020 Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
Common button lichen (Buellia stillingiana) (black) together with Lecanora on hackberry(?) tree in Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Washington, Texas, November 24, 2020 Old Washington Town Site Loop Trail, Washington, TX 77880, USA
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of Buellia stillingiana in East and Central Texas reveal its presence on various tree species, including oak and hackberry. The lichen was found in Lick Creek Park, College Station, on oak bark and trees, with multiple sightings on January 18, 2019. In Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, it was observed on a tree on December 28, 2019, and on hackberry bark on November 3, 2020. Further observations on November 24, 2020, showed the lichen growing on a hackberry tree, both alone and in combination with Lecanora. The species was also noted to have a black variant, observed on January 18, 2019, and November 24, 2020. These sightings indicate that Buellia stillingiana is widespread in East and Central Texas, colonizing different tree species and co-occurring with other lichen species.