Caloplaca Obamae

CALIFORNIA - Scientists have discovered a new species of moss. Uniquely, the naming of this moss profiteer last name of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Riverside Museum Head Moss Herbarium, Kerru Knudsen of the University of California, found a new type of lichen is when conducting a survey of plant diversity of algae in the Santa Rosa Island, California in 2007.

"I called it Caloplaca obamae, as my appreciation to the president, because he has supported the world of science," says Knudsen. "When I make a collection of recent research of this moss plants, coinciding with the time last week the Obama campaign in the U.S. Presidential election candidates," he added.
As quoted from Live Science, Friday (4/7/2009), Caloplaca obamae grow on the ground. The current population is nearly extinct because it is threatened by the existence of the farm houses in the Santa Rosa Island, which reached up to 100 land.

"These species can not survive on agricultural land and deer on Santa Rosa Island," says Knudsen. "But with a reduced number of farm houses and deer populations, will help the sustainability of this new species," explains Knudsen.
According to the research, this moss is produced by a fungus and algae living together. There are approximately 17 thousand species of moss around the world, 1,500 species of them are from California. While 300 species of mosses are found in the Santa Rosa Island, this is not surprising, because the moss is apparently native plants that grow in the area. 

"The discovery of Caloplaca obamae tells us, that there is a species of lichen and other unique plants at Santa Rosa Island are extinct. The presence of them, probably just have not been known to the world of science, because undefeated by the presence of sheep farming began to flourish in the era of 1850," he concluded .