Candelina mexicana

Candelina mexicana is a species of crustose lichen in the family Candelariaceae. This lichen forms bright yellow, rosette-shaped patches on sun-exposed rocks, with narrow lobes radiating outward from the center. It is found across a wide range from the southwestern United States through Mexico to northern South America, typically growing on non-calcareous rocks in arid and semi-arid environments. The species was first discovered in Mexico in the early 1900s and is distinguished from similar yellow lichens by its unique cellular structure and chemical composition.