Reichlingia zwackhii
Local name: gotländsk pricklav
Overview
Reichlingia zwackhii is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. It is found in temperate woodland habitats across parts of Europe. It typically grows on the moist bark of mature beech, ash, and oak trees in ancient forests, often appearing as a parasite or semi-parasite on other lichens, although it can occasionally live independently.
The lichen is rare but widespread in southern and southwestern England, with very limited occurrences reported in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Described scientifically in 1903, it was transferred to its current genus, Reichlingia, in 2013.
Reichlingia zwackhii, the Gotland spiny lichen, is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized limestone environments. The species has extremely limited distribution and small population size, making it highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbances in its restricted coastal habitats on Gotland, Sweden.
Habitat
Reichlingia zwackhii grows primarily on moist, mesic bark of mature trees such as beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), and oak (Quercus) within ancient woodland environments. It commonly colonises and visibly invades the thalli (lichen bodies) of the species Phlyctis argena, and more rarely, Phlyctis agelaea, from which it occasionally acquires patchy deposits of norstictic acid. Although typically...
Other threatened species in Arthoniaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is gotländsk pricklav classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does gotländsk pricklav live?
What are the main threats to gotländsk pricklav?
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