Umbilicaria platyrhiza is not widely recognized as an established, current, or standard species name in contemporary biological or lichenological literature. It does not appear in major taxonomic databases, such as Index Fungorum, MycoBank, or the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), as a validly published or commonly cited botanical name.
The term appears to be a combination of the genus name Umbilicaria and the specific epithet platyrhiza. Umbilicaria is a well-documented genus of foliose lichens, commonly known as "navel lichens" due to their circular thalli attached to rocky substrates by a single central holdfast called an umbilicus. These lichens are typically saxicolous (rock-dwelling) and are found in various mountainous or rocky environments globally.
The specific epithet platyrhiza is derived from the Greek words platys (meaning "flat" or "broad") and rhiza (meaning "root"). While platyrhiza is a common epithet in botany and mycology—applied to species such as Peltigera platyrhiza—there is insufficient evidence to confirm its formal use within the genus Umbilicaria. It is possible that the term represents an obscure historical synonym, a localized variant, or a typographic error for documented species such as Umbilicaria polyrrhiza. Due to the lack of verifiable scientific records, no specific morphological or ecological characteristics can be attributed to this particular name.