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Cladonia arbuscula ssp. arbuscula
Reindeer Lichen
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: No Georgia state protection
Global Rank: G5TNR
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: Granitic and sandstone outcrops
Pale green-yellow to whitish thallus with individual erect branches forming small clumps, with tips all curving over in the same direction; CHEMISTRY: thallus K-, KC+ gold (usnic acid), PD+ red (fumarprotocetraric acid); FIELD ID: possible to identify to species with experience; PD test in lab required to identify subspecies
Cladonia rangiferina also has clustered branch tips curving over, but tends to form large, rounded cushions without the yellowing at branch tips (generally grayer), & is KC-; C. arbuscula ssp. mitis is PD-, KC+ gold
None
Granitic & sandstone outcrops, on sand, gravel, & moss communities over rock
Terricolous/muscicolous/saxicolous, squamulose/fruticose lichenized fungus; photobiont an alga in genus Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia
None
Piedmont; rare disjunct in Coastal Plain on Altamaha Formation sandstone
Unknown
Rare; 3 sites protected, 1 with both subspecies not protected
With 90% of Piedmont granitic outcrops in this state, Georgia has the responsibility to protect a wider range of rock types and more of their endemic species
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.
Malcolm Hodges
22 July 2022