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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: Roadsides, outcrops, rocky woodlands

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Description

Yellow-green primary thallus of small, lobed squamules with white undersides; podetia 0.5-1.5 cm tall, sinewy, corticate, often squamulose, often branched near top, with pale brown apothecia at tips; CHEMISTRY: KC+ yellow-gold, PD- (usnic acid); FIELD ID: easy to confuse with other species, so best confirmed with chemical tests

Similar Species

Cladonia subcariosa has darker apothecia and larger, darker green or brown squamules, & has variable chemistry but never reacts KC+ gold; C. peziziformis has tiny squamules & is KC-

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Roadsides, outcrops, rocky woodlands, on soil & silicious rock

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon

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

23 July 2022