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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: Wide variety of mixed woodlands, hardwood forests and swamps

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Description

Green to gray lobes with cilia-like rhizines at edges; slender, fragile isidia or isidioid granules in patches on lobe surfaces; some lobe tips and margins disintegrating into coarse soredia; underside ecorticate, with yellow-orange pigment; CHEMISTRY: orange pigment reacts K+ purple; FIELD ID: granules & isidia on lobe surfaces clinch ID

Similar Species

Heterodermia obscurata has ecorticate undersides with orange K+ pigment, but it only produces soralia beneath lobe tips

Related Rare Species

Heterodermia appalachensis, H. erecta

Habitat

Mixed woodlands, hardwood forests & swamps; substrates: 37% Quercus bark, 11% Acer, & 42% on other hardwoods or unknowns, excepting 2 records on Taxodium, 1 on Juniperus, & 1 on silicious rock

Life History

Corticolous foliose lichenized fungus, photobiont a green chlorococcoid alga (Trebouxia?)

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide (no records from Ridge & Valley, but probably overlooked there)

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.

Lendemer, J. C. 2009. A synopsis of the lichen genus Heterodermia (Physciaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) in eastern North America. Opuscula Philolichenum 6: 1-36.

Tripp, E. A. & J. C. Lendemer. 2020. Field guide to the lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

23 March 2022