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IMAGE: The only records of the newly-identified lichen Cora timucua are 32 specimens in museum collections collected in Florida between 1885 and 1985. Up to 90% of its native pine scrub. view more
Credit: Robert Lücking
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Scientists have found a new species of fleshy verdigris lichen, thanks to DNA analysis of museum specimens. Misidentified by its original collectors, the lichen is only known from 32 specimens collected in North and Central Florida scrubland between 1885 and 1985. Now the hunt is on to find it in the wild - if it still exists.
The lichen, named
Cora timucua in honor of Florida s Timucua people, is critically endangered, even more so than the federally protected Florida perforate reindeer lichen, and possibly extinct. Researchers are holding out hope that
January 13, 2021
At least eight species of lichens can be seen in this photo taken at the Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge in southern Albany County. Wyoming’s 860 lichen species are listed individually in an online tool by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at UW. (Dorothy Tuthill Photo)
A “census” of Wyoming’s lichens is now online and accessible through the species list tool of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) at the University of Wyoming.
“Wyoming has a bounty of 860 lichen species, a workforce of soil-binding, rock-hugging and tree-trimming organisms,” says Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD’s lead botanist. “The addition of lichens to the species list tool is a major stride in representing Wyoming’s flora and fauna.”