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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G2G4

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): Yes

2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Moderate Conservation Concern

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Mesic hardwood forests

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Description

Gray-green, olive or rich green foliose thallus, loosely adnate; lobes up to 6 mm wide, smooth to slightly puckered, with rounded to truncate tips; orange-brown apothecia shallowly cupped & with lobed thalline rims; underside brown; FIELD ID: distinctive chestnut apothecia with toothed thalline margins are unmistakable

Similar Species

Ricasolia quercizans is larger & at higher elevations, and the apothecia have no lobules on margins

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mesic hardwood forests; substrates mostly hardwood bark: 8 records on Quercus, 5 on Carya, 3 on Magnolia, 2 on Nyssa, 1 on Fraxinus & 1 on a shaded boulder

Life History

Corticolous foliose lichenized fungus, photobiont a unicellular green alga

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Ridge & Valley

Threats

Harvesting old-growth hardwood forests

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare to occasional

Conservation Management Recommendations

Conserve mature hardwood forests

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

4 May 2022