Blue Jellyskin Lichen
Leptogium cyanescens
Leptogium cyanescens, commonly called the blue jellyskin, is a foliose, gelatinous lichen in the family Collemataceae. It is one of the most widespread members of its genus, recorded throughout temperate and subtropical regions on at least four continents.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptogium_cyanescens
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Peltigerales
Family
Collemataceae
Genus
Leptogium
Blue Jellyskin Lichen belongs to the family Collemataceae, order Peltigerales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Leptogium cyanescens, commonly called the blue jellyskin, is a foliose, gelatinous lichen in the family Collemataceae. It is one of the most widespread members of its genus, recorded throughout temperate and subtropical regions on at least four continents.
Blue Jellyskin Lichen faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter its sensitive epiphytic habitat. Habitat loss from deforestation and urbanization has eliminated many suitable host trees, while climate change is altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
NatureServe rates the species G5 ("secure") because of its virtually worldwide range and frequency. In North America it is frequent on the bark of deciduous trees from southern Canada through the eastern United States, extending westward into humid forests of British Columbia where populations are considered vulnerable to intensive logging. European records span from the British Isles and...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Blue Jellyskin Lichen faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter its sensitive epiphytic habitat. Habitat loss from deforestation and urbanization has eliminated many suitable host trees, while climate change is altering the moisture regimes essential for this species' survival.
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Habitat loss from deforestation
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Host tree mortality
Urbanization and development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Blue Jellyskin Lichen (Leptogium cyanescens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blue-jellyskin-lichen