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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G4G5

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: Mixed hardwood ? pine forests

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Description

Pale gray, continuous thallus variably lumpy; apothecia within short, steep-sided warts, with 1 to several ostioles at broad, flat-to-lumpy summit, ostioles brown; MICROSCOPY: spores ellipsoid, colorless to brownish-greenish, simple, inner wall ornamented, 2(-3?)/ascus; CHEMISTRY: medulla K+ yellow, PD+ pale orange (stictic acid), cortex C-, UV+ pale pink-orange (often on warts only), brown-green spores K+ purple; FIELD ID not possible, requires chemical tests & dissection to examine spores

Similar Species

Two other mesa warts: Pertusaria subpertusa has medulla K-, PD+ red, P. neoscotica has medulla K+ red

Related Rare Species

Pertusaria appalachensis

Habitat

Mixed hardwood – pine forests, on Acer & Quercus bark

Life History

Corticolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont a green alga in Trebouxia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Piedmont, Ridge & Valley, Southern Blue Ridge

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare to occasional

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

11 July 2022