Rinodina chrysomelaena

Rinodina chrysomelaena Tuck.
Lemon Pepper-spore

Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G2

State Rank: S1S2

Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: No

SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): No

SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes

2025 SGCN Priority Tier: High Conservation Concern

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Humid, rocky forests and rocky streams

Description

Pale yellow areolate thallus; apothecia with dark brown disks (peppered with darker spores) & thalline rims; MICROSCOPY: brown, 2-celled spores ellipsoid, with angular lumina; FIELD ID: very distinctive color contrast

Similar Species

Uniquely fertile yellow crust on rock with dark disks

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Humid, rocky forests & rocky streams, on silicious rock

Life History

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

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Southern Blue Ridge

Threats

Unknown

SWAP 2025 Threat Matrix

Threat 1 Threat 2 Threat 3

General Threat Pollution Climate change & severe weather None

Specific Threat Air-borne pollutants Habitat shifting & alteration None

	Threat 1	Threat 2	Threat 3
General Threat	Pollution	Climate change & severe weather	None
Specific Threat	Air-borne pollutants	Habitat shifting & alteration	None

Georgia Conservation Status

Rare, known to be declining in N.C. where only 1 recent record; 2 Ga. records discovered during directed survey for species

Conservation Management Recommendations

Protect sites where species occurs, keep habitat from becoming too shaded

SWAP 2025 Conservation Actions:

Action 1: Complete a distributional survey to assess current range, conservation status or to identify best populations
Action 2: Provide technical and/or financial support to landowners to help them manage rare species and habitats on their property

References

Brodo, I. M. 2001. Lichens of North America. 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.

Sheard, J. W. 2010. The lichen genus Rinodina (Ach.) Gray (Lecanoromycetidae, Physciaceae) in North America, north of Mexico. National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa.

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

29 July 2022