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Catillaria chalybeia (Borrer) Massal.
Tiny Rust Buttons

Photo © Malcolm Hodges, from a specimen collected in Walker Co., 14 June 2008
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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: None

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Rock outcrops, boulders


Description

Thin thallus, greenish to endolithic, with black apothecia 0.3-0.4 mm in diameter; disks convex, borders disappearing with age; MICROSCOPY: spores colorless, 2-celled, narrowly ovoid, 8/ascus, about 6-15 x 2.5-5 µm; FIELD ID not possible; the dotlets & tiny buttons can be a confusing group, best sorted by dissection & examination of spores & disks

Similar Species

Catillaria lenticularis is on calcareous substrates; other dark-disked crusts on silicious rock include Bacidina, Buellia Porpidia species, most of which have larger disks or more visible thalli than this species

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Rock outcrops, boulders, on silicious rock (HCl-); 1 record on brick

Life History

Saxicolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont an alga in Myrmecia or Dictyochloropsis

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Cumberland Plateau, Southern Blue Ridge, Piedmont

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare; like other tiny buttons, this species is easily overlooked, and is likely undercounted

Conservation Management Recommendations

None

References

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 Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.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

15 July 2022