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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G5

State Rank: SU

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: Spruce-fir forest (N.C.), pine ? hardwood forest studded with sandstone outcrops (Ga.)

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Description

Gray thallus of adnate, relatively broad lobes, rounded sinuses forming circular gaps between lobes (“loops”); mostly unbranched, short black rhizines on some lobe margins; underside black; abundant, usually short to long isidia at center of thallus, never ciliate, usually brown-tipped, giving a brown cast to the center, older isidia sometimes flattening to become slightly lobulate; CHEMISTRY: medulla K-, KC+ deep pink becoming orange, C-, UV+ blue-white (barbatic acid complex); FIELD ID: best confirmed with KC & UV tests, though possible with extensive experience given a well-developed thallus

Similar Species

Hypotrachyna minarum has medulla KC+ red, C+ pink; H. horrescens & H. mcmulliniana have ciliate isidia (key below)

Related Rare Species

Hypotrachyna croceopustulata, H. cryptochlora, H. oostingii, H. pseudosinuosa

Habitat

Spruce-fir forest (N.C.), pine – hardwood forest studded with sandstone outcrops (Ga.); substrates: In N.C., reported on conifer bark; in Ga., on sandstone (at brow of Cumberland Plateau)

Life History

Saxicolous (or corticolous) foliose lichenized fungus, photobiont a unicellular green alga (Trebouxia?)

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Cumberland Plateau (also high-elevation forests in Southern Blue Ridge of N. C.)

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare

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.

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

25 March 2022