Identification Information: This species is unmistakable and recognizable for all naturalists. Thallus fruticose, much dissected into very fine, somewhat tubular, often branched lobes of c. 0.3 mm wide; upper surface yellowish-green; lower surface black; isidiate with isidia of the same width as the lobes; medulla P+ red; KOH+ yellow/orange (not >red); apothecia unknown.
This species grows only on gravelly places on the mid-elevations of the mountains on St Helena. It is subject to accidental extinction by trampling, collecting, road development, and locally over-grazing.
Collections should be regulated, also for scientific research.
Criterion A: may apply: the largest known location, 1 of 4 known to date, is on the track of a scheduled road which is being built in 2017; there are certainly more than 4 locations though: some localities have not yet been discovered.
Assessor/s: Aptroot, A. & Perez-Ortega, S.; Reviewer/s: Scheidegger, C.; Contributor(s): Weerakoon, G.; Facilitators(s) and Compiler(s): Dahlberg, A.
Bibliography:
Aptroot, A. (2008) Lichens of St Helena and Ascension Island. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society158: 147-171.
Aptroot, A. (2012) Lichens of St Helena. SCES Publications, Kew: 116.
IUCN (2018) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 15 November 2018).
Find out more about the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteriahere.