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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: GNR

State Rank: SNR

Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: No

SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

2025 SGCN Priority Tier: None

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Mesic hardwood forests and swamps

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Description

Pale granular thallus with bright orange-brown to black disks, rims often white-pruinose (especially when young), disks occasionally also pruinose; MICROSCOPY: biatorine disks colorless but for pale yellow hypothecium, spores colorless, broader at 1 end, 30-53 x 2-3 µm (if disk parts pigmented yellow-brown, may react K+ rose); CHEMISTRY: interior brown-pigmented portions of disk K-; FIELD ID: granular thallus & pumpkin-colored disks arrive at this species, with some experience; brown- to black-disked specimens require dissection & chemical tests to separate from other Bacidia

Similar Species

For orange-disked specimens, other Bacidia species have different colored disks or smooth thalli; Brigantiaea leucoxantha has bright orange, pruinose disks and a thick, pale-green continuous thallus; brown- or black-disked specimens with pruinose rims & disks can be confused with B. polychroa or B. suffusa, both of which have smooth thalli

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mesic hardwood forests & swamps; substrates: 73% Acer (67% A. negundo), 20% other hardwoods & 1 record on Taxodium

Life History

Corticolous lichenized fungus, photobiont one of multiple species of green, unicellular algae

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon

Conservation Management Recommendations

None

References

Brodo, I. M. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.

Brodo, I. M. 2016. Keys to lichens of North America: revised and expanded. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.

Esslinger, T. L. 2021. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. Version 24. Opuscula Philolichenum 20: 100-394.

Harris, R. C. & D. Ladd. 2005. Preliminary draft: Ozark lichens. Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

5 March 2022