Rare Species Guide

  Basis for Former Listing

The North American distribution of Lobaria quercizans (smooth lungwort) is primarily restricted to the Appalachian Mountains, the northeastern United States, and the Great Lakes region. Minnesota is at the northwestern limit of its range. This lichen is quite common in old uncut hardwood forests and, in Minnesota, it has been collected in multiple locations within the Superior National Forest in the Arrowhead counties. Lobaria quercizans was originally listed as a threatened species in Minnesota in 1984, and was subsequently reclassified to special concern status in 1996.

  Basis for Delisting

Because recent searches have shown this lichen to be fairly common in old-growth forests of Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch) and Acer saccharum (sugar maple), it no longer merits any special status. Lobaria quercizans was delisted in 2013.

  References and Additional Information

Brodo, I. M., S. D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut. 795 pp.

Jordan, W. P. 1973. The genus Lobaria in North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 76:225-251.

Smith, H. 1923. Ethnobotany of the Menomini Indians. Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee 4(1):1-174.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2012. Statement of need and reasonableness. Division of Ecological and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul. 337 pp.

U.S. Forest Service. 1999. Population viability assessment in forest plan revision. Statement of purpose and reason. Draft species data records: Lobaria quercizans. United States Forest Service, Region 9.

Wetmore, C. M. 1981 (revised 2005). Keys to the Lichens of Minnesota. Department of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. 92 pp.

Wetmore, C. M. 2002. Conservation assessment for Lobaria quercizans Michx. United States Forest Service, Eastern Region, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 18 pp.