| Caloplaca obamae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Teloschistales |
| Family: | Teloschistaceae |
| Genus: | Caloplaca |
| Species: | C. obamae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Caloplaca obamae Knudsen (2009)
| |
Caloplaca obamae is a species of crustose lichen in the fungus genus Caloplaca. It is the first species to be named in honor of United States President Barack Obama. C. obamae was discovered in 2007 by Kerry Knudsen on Santa Rosa Island in California and published in March 2009. Knudsen stated that he chose to honor Obama for "his support of science and scientific education" and wrote the manuscript for publication of the species in the time between Obama's election and his inauguration.[1][2]
- ^ ScienceDaily. 16 April 2009. New Species Of Lichen Named After President Barack Obama. Accessed online 16 April 2009.
- ^ Knudsen, K. 2009. Caloplaca obamae, a new species from Santa Rosa Island, California. Opuscula Philolichenum, 6: 37–40.