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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G3

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: Granitic outcrops

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Description

Whitish thallus of narrow lobes up to 0.5 mm wide, often forming small rosettes; lobe tips often gray, & older lobes sometimes bumpy; black apothecia with thick white thalline margins dotting older parts of thallus; lower surface white with pale rhizines; FIELD ID: a careful look is required to confirm no soredia are present

Similar Species

P. subtilis & P. thomsoniana are also on rock & can be fertile, but many lobe tips are sorediate; other Physcia species are primarily sorediate

Related Rare Species

Physcia clementei, P. crispa, P. pseudospeciosa

Habitat

Granitic outcrops, on silicious rock, usually in sunny, exposed spots

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Southern Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau; disjunct in Piedmont on Stone Mt. (DeKalb Co.)

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.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

22 February 2023