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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: GNR

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: Mesic hardwood forests and swamps

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Description

Thallus immersed in bark, invisible, but photobiont may be seen in dissection; apothecia immersed, visible as a tiny pore surrounded by a white margin with radial grooves, giving it the appearance of a little star or snowflake; microscopy: spores colorless, single-celled, many per ascus; FIELD ID: though very inconspicuous, can be found in situ with diligence & experience, but usually discovered incidentally when studying other specimens through a dissecting scope

Similar Species

None

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mesic hardwood forests & swamps; substrates: hardwood bark: 74% Quercus, 11% Acer & 9% other hardwoods; 1 record on Pinus glabra bark

Life History

Corticolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont an alga in Trentepohlia

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Statewide

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Probably common, but often overlooked

Conservation Management Recommendations

None

References

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.

Tripp, E. A. & J. C. Lendemer. 2020. Field guide to the lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

4 August 2022