Phlyctis agelaea
Local name: Kønnet sølvlav
Kønnet sølvlav (Phlyctis agelaea) is a crustose lichen species characterized by its distinctive silvery-gray thallus with scattered white soralia that produce powdery propagules. This epiphytic lichen plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling and provides microhabitat for invertebrates while serving as an indicator of air quality in forest ecosystems.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Ostropales
Family
Phlyctidaceae
Genus
Phlyctis
Phlyctis agelaea belongs to the family Phlyctidaceae, order Ostropales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Kønnet sølvlav (Phlyctis agelaea) is a crustose lichen species characterized by its distinctive silvery-gray thallus with scattered white soralia that produce powdery propagules. This epiphytic lichen plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling and provides microhabitat for invertebrates while serving as an indicator of air quality in forest ecosystems.
Kønnet sølvlav (Phlyctis agelaea) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of old-growth forests where this lichen species depends on specific microclimate conditions. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and acid rain, severely impacts lichen communities by altering bark chemistry and reducing air quality. Climate change further threatens this species by disrupting the delicate moisture and temperature balance required for lichen survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This lichen grows exclusively on the bark of mature deciduous trees, particularly favoring smooth-barked species like beech and maple in humid, old-growth forests. It requires stable microclimatic conditions with high humidity and minimal air pollution, typically found in undisturbed woodland areas with dense canopy cover.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Kønnet sølvlav (Phlyctis agelaea) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of old-growth forests where this lichen species depends on specific microclimate conditions. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and acid rain, severely impacts lichen communities by altering bark chemistry and reducing air quality. Climate change further threatens this species by disrupting the delicate moisture and temperature balance required for lichen survival.
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat loss and forest fragmentation
Loss of old-growth forest substrates
Acid rain and atmospheric chemistry changes
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). Phlyctis agelaea (Phlyctis agelaea). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/knnet-slvlav