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Psorula rufonigra (Tuck.) Gotth. Schneider
Blue-edged Scale

Photo © Don Hunter, Ben Hill Co., Ga., 1 March 2015 (damp thallus)
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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: Silicious rock outcrops, sunny woodland boulders


Description

Variable, gray to black when dry, sometimes with a bluish cast & pale edges to squamules, dark green when wet; squamules 1-2 mm across, often lobed & shingled or overlapping; apothecia flat, black, dark blue when wet; this species is invariably in a complex with the micro-filamentous cyanobacterial lichen Spilonema revertens, on which it may be a parasite or have an obligate dependence of some sort

Similar Species

None

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Silicious rock outcrops, sunny woodland boulders, on a wide variety of silicious rock, including sandstone (especially Altamaha Formation), granite, gneiss, soapstone/serpentinite & indurated kaolin

Life History

Saxicolous squamulose lichenized fungus, photobiont a chlorococcoid alga

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Southern Blue Ridge

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon to fairly common where it occurs

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.

Harris, R. C. & D. Ladd. 2005. Preliminary draft: Ozark lichens. Unpublished manuscript, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

5 August 2022