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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: Forests, woodlands and swamps

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Description

Pale- to dark-green thallus with abundant usually-sterile apothecia, those covered in a mound of white fluff, apparently bitter when licked (not recommended); CHEMISTRY: fruiting bodies K-, KC+ purple, briefly, C- (picrolichenic acid), UV-; FIELD ID: possible with field UV & KC test

Similar Species

Lepra commutata can have as dark green a thallus & similar-looking warts, but it is UV+ yellow; rare L. ventosa has similar chemistry but is UV+ yellow & is restricted to Coastal Plain

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Forests, woodlands & swamps; on hardwood bark, especially Quercus, Carya, Carpinus & Acer

Life History

Corticolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont an alga in Trebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide

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.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

20 April 2022