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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G2G4

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: Sandhill woodland, sandstone outcrops, roadsides

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Description

Pale gray thallus composed entirely of richly branched ecorticate podetia, forming large cushions up to 30 cm across; branching is mostly dichotomous, branch tips spreading and thalli fairly coarse, with surface of large clumps often lumpy & uneven; occasionally fertile with tiny brown apothecia at branch tips; CHEMISTRY: thallus K+ yellow (atranorin), UV-; FIELD ID: possible with experience, but field K test recommended to confirm, & field UV test if any question regarding C. evansii

Similar Species

This species is frequently interspersed with Cladonia subtenuis, which is usually noticeably greener, has a more even appearance to clump surfaces (unless mechanically disturbed), & is K-; C. evansii is also whitish-gray but has much finer branching, and the puffs are more hemispherical if clumped or lie separate from others; C. evansii is also K+ yellow, but is UV+ blue-white while C. sandstedei is UV-; Cladonia furcata can invade from nearby shadier woods, but is greener, corticate & basally squamulose

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Sandhill woodland, sandstone outcrops, roadsides, on sand, detritus & sandstone

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Coastal Plain, rarely penetrating into Piedmont

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon but likely overlooked due to similarity with abundant Cladonia subtenuis

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. 1995. More Florida lichens including the 10-cent tour of the pyrenolichens. Unpublished manuscript, Bronx, N.Y.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

13 May 2022