Melanelia stygia

Melanelia stygia, the alpine camouflage lichen, is a species of lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. The dark-coloured lichen, first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, forms leafy growths on rocks in arctic and alpine regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The lichen has a dark brown to black, glossy surface with narrow, overlapping lobes and tiny pores called pseudocyphellae scattered across its surface. It is a slow-growing species well-adapted to harsh mountain environments, where it is commonly found on non-calcareous rocks at high elevations. While it tolerates extreme cold conditions, climate change may pose a threat to its survival. The species can be used to produce a brownish-coloured wool dye.