Rimose


Rimose is an adjective used to describe a surface that is cracked or fissured. The term is often used in describing crustose lichens. A rimose surface of a lichen is sometimes contrasted to the surface being areolate. Areolate is an extreme form of being rimose, where the cracks or fissures are so deep that they create island-like pieces called areoles, which look the "islands" of mud on the surface of a dry lake bed. Rimose and areolate are contrasted with being verrucose, or "warty". Verrucose surfaces have warty bumps which are distinct, but not separated by cracks.