Loading profile. Please wait . . .

---

Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G5

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: High-elevation rocky forests, rocky balds

---

Description

Pale to brown thallus of thick, crowded, convex areoles, apothecia black with black rims, round or conforming to spaces between crowded areoles; MICROSCOPY: spores brown, muriform, 8/ascus; CHEMISTRY: medulla K+ yellow, KC+ pink (stictic & gyrophoric acids); FIELD ID: dissection & chemical tests required

Similar Species

No other Rhizocarpon has these spore characteristics & chemistry

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

High-elevation rocky forests, rocky balds, on sheltered silicious rock

Life History

Saxicolous crustose lichenized fungus, photobiont a unicellular green alga

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Southern Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau

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.

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

July 5, 2022