geel speldenkussentje
ENEndangered

geel speldenkussentje

Pertusaria flavida

Pertusaria flavida is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. First described in 1815, it is characterized by its distinctive pale to bright sulphur yellow or yellow-green-grey thallus with a cracked, warted surface.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pertusaria_flavida

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Ascomycota

Class

Lecanoromycetes

Order

Pertusariales

Family

Pertusariaceae

Genus

Pertusaria

geel speldenkussentje belongs to the family Pertusariaceae, order Pertusariales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.

02Description

Species Profile

Pertusaria flavida is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen in the family Pertusariaceae. First described in 1815, it is characterized by its distinctive pale to bright sulphur yellow or yellow-green-grey thallus with a cracked, warted surface. The lichen reproduces mainly through small spherical or cylindrical outgrowths called isidia, which occasionally break down into powdery structures, while fruiting bodies are very rare. It contains thiophaninic acid, giving it an orange fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Widespread throughout southern and eastern Britain, parts of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, as well as mountainous regions of Spain and Portugal, P. flavida typically inhabits the bark of mature broad-leaved trees in well-lit environments such as open...

Pertusaria flavida, a crustose lichen species, faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution and habitat degradation. The species is highly sensitive to atmospheric pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, which alter the chemical composition of its substrate and disrupt its symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusEndangered (EN)
GroupFungi
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

In the United Kingdom, this lichen species inhabits both smooth and rough bark of mature broad-leaved trees that receive abundant light, with a particular preference for older oak (Quercus) specimens. Its typical habitats include open woodlands, parkland, and trees situated along roadsides. The distribution pattern shows a strong presence throughout southern and eastern Britain, extending into...

TERRESTRIALMajor
04Threats

Threats

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IUCN Red List: Endangered

Pertusaria flavida, a crustose lichen species, faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution and habitat degradation. The species is highly sensitive to atmospheric pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, which alter the chemical composition of its substrate and disrupt its symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae.

Acid rain damaging bark substrate chemistry

HighOngoing

Air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust

HighOngoing

Habitat loss due to urbanization and infrastructure development

HighOngoing

Climate change altering temperature and humidity regimes

MediumOngoing

Forest management practices removing suitable host trees

MediumOngoing
Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

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). geel speldenkussentje (Pertusaria flavida). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/geel-speldenkussentje

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