Loading profile...

Loading profile. Please wait . . .

Buellia spuria (Schaerer) Anzi
Sunken Rock Buttons

Photo © Don Hunter, Warren Co., Ga., 8 June 2014
range map button NatureServe button Report Button About button

Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G3G5

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:

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Massive outcrops, boulders


Description

Whitish to gray, rimose thallus with black apothecia; disks either superficial or imbedded in thallus, but if the latter, generally located along cracks rather than in the center of polygonal areoles; disk rims sometimes frosted gray, especially when young; MICROSCOPY: spores brown, 2-celled; CHEMISTRY: thallus/medulla K+ yellow (stictic acid complex), UV-; FIELD ID is possible, with experience separating from Lecanora, Lecidella & other Buellia (see distinctions below)

Similar Species

Buellia maculata thallus is not areolate, & is K+ red; B. mamillana is UV+ orange; Lecidella stigmatea has a lumpy thallus with more sessile disks, & different spores; Lecanora oreinoides is whiter, disk rims are usually invisible, disks always immersed & centered (away from edges of areoles)

Related Rare Species

Buellia circumpallida

Habitat

Massive outcrops, boulders on silicious rock

Life History

Saxicolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont a green unicellular alga in Trebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Common

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 Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.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

6 March 2022