Loading profile. Please wait . . .
Cladonia squamosa (Scop.) Hoffm.
Northern Dragon
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 High Priority Species (SGCN): No
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Granitic and sandstone outcrops, woodlands, roadsides
Pale green, whitish or brown primary thallus of long squamules (up to 5 mm long) finely divided into finger-like projections; podetia 1-5 cm tall, pointed, often branched, sometimes abundantly at tips into antler-like arrangements or ragged, proliferating cups with hole at base; podetia squamulose, sometimes densely, often very finely, frequently ecorticate with exposed stereome, and occasionally tipped with brown apothecia; podetia can be 2-toned, with portion toward sun combinations of green and brown and underside entirely white; CHEMISTRY: squamatic acid chemotype: K-, PD-, UV+ blue-white (test underside); thamnolic acid chemotype: K+ yellow, PD+ yellow-orange, UV-; FIELD ID: the often dramatic morphology is unmistakable, especially in dry rocky habitats; specimens from Coastal Plain forests should be tested in the lab
Cladonia beaumontii is a similar Coastal Plain species, but its chemistry is K-, PD+ yellow & UV+ blue-white
Cladonia beaumontii
Granitic & sandstone outcrops, woodlands, roadsides; substrates: about half of records associated with silicious rock, either on rock, on shallow soil over rock, or associated with mosses on rock; 1 record on limestone; the remainder on wood & bark (mostly conifers) & soil
Saxicolous/terricolous (though substrates variable) squamulose/fruticose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid alga in genus Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia
None
Statewide
Unknown
Common
None
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 Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.
Malcolm Hodges
13 May 2022