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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: GNR

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: Hardwood forests, mixed woodlands

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Description

Green to gray lobes with a fringe of marginal rhizines that function as cilia; undersides ecorticate, mostly white grading to brown-gray toward center, with small smudges of orange pigment near lobe tips (close look required); underside of many lobe tips curled back to expose broad, pale soralia; CHEMISTRY: orange pigment K+ purple, medulla K+ yellow to red; FIELD ID possible with careful observation & field K tests

Similar Species

Heterodermia crocea & H. obscurata also both have orange, K+ purple pigment on undersides, but the former has isidia or isidiate granules on the lobe surfaces, & the latter has orange pigment broadly tinting the undersides & a medulla that is K-

Related Rare Species

Heterodermia appalachensis, H. crocea, H. erecta

Habitat

Hardwood forests, mixed woodlands; on hardwood bark: Quercus, Acer, Liriodendron & unknowns; 1 record on rock

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Ridge & Valley, Southern Blue Ridge, Piedmont

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Occasional, possibly overlooked

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