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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:

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Xeric sandhills, flatwoods, rock outcrops, roadsides

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Description

Primary thallus of green lobed squamules; podetia pale, multi-branched, 1-2 cm tall, perforated at main branch points, corticate, sporting squamules on the main stem; CHEMISTRY: thallus K+ deep yellow, KC-, PD+ orange (thamnolic acid); FIELD ID possible, but best confirmed with chemical tests

Similar Species

Cladonia leporina does not have large, lobed squamules, if it has a primary thallus at all; C. furcata, when small, might be confused, but it also lacks a primary thallus; C. dimorphoclada can have a primary thallus when young, but it has a bumpy surface to larger branches & different chemistry

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Xeric sandhills, flatwoods, rock outcrops, roadsides, on sandy soil

Life History

Terricolous squamulose/fruticose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid alga in genus Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Coastal Plain

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare

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.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

22 July 2022