Cladonia polycarpoides Nyl.

Sørlandspolster

Red list categories: Norway: K , Sweden: V , Finland: E , EU: +

By The threatened macrolichen project, - updated 11.08.1996.
[Map] Sources for map data: All relevant herbaria and literature
Abbreviations, map symbols and standard references
Norwegian distribution: The species has a southern distribution, with only 3 known localities in Vest-Agder, Aust-Agder and Østfold - Counties:: Vf, AA, VA. - Vegetation regions: nemoral to southern boreal. - Altitude: From about sea-level to 300 m

World distribution: The world distribution includes Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand (Carlin & Owe-Larsson 1994). It has a southwestern distribution in Norway (Nordnes 1982a) and Sweden (11 localities; Carlin & Owe-Larsson 1994), and is also reported from Finland and continental Europe

Ecology: Results. The species was not given priority during the field work, and no localities were visited. Ecological label data were sparse. In one locality the species was found on open, gently SE-sloping rocks near a river. Another label mentioned a railway station as the habitat. Discussion. The occurrence at a railway station indicates that C. polycarpoides is tolerant of disturbance, as it is in the U.S.A. where it is a common species on road sides (Carlin & Owe-Larsson 1994). In Sweden it grows in common habitats, like exposed sandy soil and thin soil over rock outcrops (Carlin & Owe-Larsson 1994)

Threats: Results. None. Discussion. A recent Swedish study concluded that the species had small but stable populations that were not acutely threatened (Carlin & Owe-Larsson 1994). It is probably an early colonizer like most other Cladonia species

Status: Without well-developed podetia, the species cannot on be separated morphologically from the common C. cervicornis, C. subcervicornis, and even C. macrophylla. Field studies therefore require extensive collection for TLC examination. Since the species is difficult to recognize in the field and its habitat is not rare or threatened in Norway, we assume the species is overlooked. There are no protected localities

Specimens in other herbaria, litterature, etc.

  • VEST-AGDER, VENNESLA, Setesdalsbanen, Hægeland stasjon, UTM: MK 282 754, alt.:, , 1915, Sørensen (Nordnes 1982: 188)