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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G5

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: Mixed forests

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Description

Green primary thallus with variably lobed squamules which may or may not be sorediate (both literature and our specimens are confusing); paler green podetia are a column or tapered “awl” 1-3 cm long, finely sorediate unless scraped away to reveal white, translucent stereome; podetia are tipped with red apothecia or pycnidia, sometimes minute and obscured by soredia, sometimes blackened with age; CHEMISTRY: var. macilenta, K+ yellow; var. bacillaris, K-; FIELD ID: difficult, given miniscule red tips of some thalli & many powderhorn Cladonia species with which this can be confused; powdery pale green podetia with red tips are key marks

Similar Species

Cladonia didyma has isidioid granules or lobules covering its podetia, different from the powdery soredia of C. macilenta; other red-fruited Cladonia have corticate podetia (though some can have squamules, e.g., C. cristatella)

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mixed forests, mostly Pinus wood; a few from Pinus bark, Quercus & Taxodium, & 1 from Chamaecyparis; a few records on soil, & 2 from silicious rock

Life History

Lignicolous (substrates variable) squamulose/fruticose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid alga in genus Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

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 Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.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

13 May 2022