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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 High Priority Species (SGCN): No

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 0

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Mesic hardwood forests

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Description

Brown to gray thallus (olive when damp) of narrow lobes about 4-10 mm wide, upper surface smooth to slightly roughened; isidia lobulate/flattened (forming upper & lower surfaces), branching, mostly marginal but also forming along surface cracks; lower surface a tan to brown tomentum dotted with relatively large openings (cyphellae), some irregular in shape, often clustering in groups, through which a tan or buff (orange in some individuals) basal membrane can be seen; CHEMISTRY: medulla K+ purple (anthraquinones); FIELD ID: combination of branching lobules & big, buff-bottomed cyphellae are distinctive; confirm if necessary with medullar K test

Similar Species

Sticta carolinensis has smaller, white-bottomed cyphellae & its medulla is K-; S beauvoisii is larger, with darker tomentum on lower surface, coralloid isidia not flattened/lobulate, & cyphellae isolated, not clustered, & also white-bottomed

Related Rare Species

None

Habitat

Mesic hardwood forests; 4 records each on Acer & Quercus bark, & 4 records on silicious rock; 1 record on moss

Life History

Corticolous/saxicolous foliose lichenized fungus, photobiont a cyanobacterium in genus Nostoc

Survey Recommendations

None

Range

Southern Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau

Threats

Unknown

Georgia Conservation Status

Uncommon

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.

McDonald, T., J. Miadlikowska & F. Lutzoni. 2003. The lichen genus Sticta in the Great Smoky Mountains: a phylogenetic study of morphological, chemical and molecular data.

Authors of Account

Malcolm Hodges

Date Compiled or Updated

30 July 2022