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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: Rock outcrops, high-elevation rocky forests

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Description

Pale blue-gray to whitish aggregate leprose thallus, often occurring as spreading rings, darkening toward center & proliferating into interior to create nested rings (or "zones"); granules developing a hardened outer layer resembling a cortex; rhizohyphae absent; CHEMISTRY: 4 chemical “races” known from Ga.:

Alectorialic acid race: thallus K+ yellow, KC+ red, C-, PD+ yellow, UV-

Fumarprotocetraric acid (+ atranorin) race: thallus K+ yellow, KC-, C-, PD+ orange-red, UV-

Norstictic acid race: thallus K+ yellow turning red, KC-, C-, PD+ orange, UV-

Stictic acid race: thallus K+ yellow, KC-, C-, PD+ orange, UV-

FIELD ID: zoned thalli on sunny rocks are distinctive & identifiable, while those in shadier habitats are best left to experts & thin-layer chromatography

Similar Species

Other saxicolous Lepraria species are fluffier & grow in more protected locations

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Rock outcrops, high-elevation rocky forests; substrates: 88% silicious rock, 12% hardwood bark

Life History

Saxicolous leprose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid green alga

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Piedmont, Southern Blue Ridge, Ridge & Valley, Cumberland Plateau; a few records just south of the Fall Line in the Coastal Plain

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Fairly 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. 2013. A monograph of the crustose members of the genus Lepraria Ach. s. str. (Stereocaulaceae, Lichenized Ascomycetes) in North America north of Mexico. Opuscula Philolichenum 11: 27-141.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

21 April 2022