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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 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: Variety of hardwood and mixed forests

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Description

Rich green to gray lobes with marginal rhizines that function as cilia; undersides ecorticate, mostly tinted bright orange; underside of many lobe tips curled back to expose broad, pale soralia; CHEMISTRY: orange pigment K+ purple, medulla K-; FIELD ID: unmistakable with a little experience

Similar Species

Heterodermia crocea & H. neglecta 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 restricted to spots near lobe tips & a medulla that reacts K+ yellow to red

Related Rare Species

Heterodermia appalachensis, H. crocea, H. erecta

Habitat

Widespread; substrates: 85% on hardwood bark: 43% Quercus, 9% Acer, 5% Carya, 5% Nyssa & 23% on bark of other hardwoods or unknowns; 6% on conifer bark: 9 records on Juniperus, 3 on Taxodium & 2 on Pinus; 9% on silicious rock & 1 record on calcareous rock

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Common

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.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

23 March 2022