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Cladonia robbinsii A. Evans
Yellow-tongue Cladonia

Photo © Don Hunter, Walton Co., Ga., 24 July 2015
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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, woodlands, roadsides


Description

Yellow-green to Kelly-green primary thallus made up of large, ruffled squamules loosely arranged in a convex ball or mat, undersides of squamules typically yellowish; podetia infrequent, 1-5 mm tall, forming minute cups or with tiny brown apothecia at tips; CHEMISTRY: thallus KC+ yellow-gold to orange-gold (usnic & barbatic acids); FIELD ID: very yellow examples are easily identified, but more ambiguous ones will require chemical tests

Similar Species

Cladonia strepsilis has small, more tightly-packed green-to-brown squamules (KC+ blue-green); Cladonia mateocyatha has even larger ruffled squamules with a consistently brown cast (KC-, K-, PD+ red); all are frequently found growing together, allowing close comparison

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Rock outcrops, woodlands, roadsides, on silicious rock, shallow soil over silicious rock, or soil

Life History

Saxicolous/terricolous squamulose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid alga in genus Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Mostly Piedmont, with occasional records from Southern Blue Ridge & 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

24 July 2022