Orange-fruited Elm-lichen
Cerothallia luteoalba
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Teloschistales
Family
Teloschistaceae
Genus
Cerothallia
Orange-fruited Elm-lichen belongs to the family Teloschistaceae, order Teloschistales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Orange-fruited Elm-lichen faces severe threats from air pollution and habitat degradation, which compromise the specific atmospheric conditions required for this sensitive epiphytic species. Urban expansion and industrial emissions have significantly reduced suitable habitat, while climate change alters precipitation patterns and temperature regimes critical for lichen survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This epiphytic lichen grows on the bark of mature elm trees and other deciduous trees in temperate forests, particularly favoring areas with high humidity and clean air conditions. It typically occurs in old-growth or semi-natural woodland environments where atmospheric pollution levels remain relatively low.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Orange-fruited Elm-lichen faces severe threats from air pollution and habitat degradation, which compromise the specific atmospheric conditions required for this sensitive epiphytic species. Urban expansion and industrial emissions have significantly reduced suitable habitat, while climate change alters precipitation patterns and temperature regimes critical for lichen survival.
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Habitat loss from urbanization
Host tree decline and forest fragmentation
Industrial emissions and nitrogen deposition
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). Orange-fruited Elm-lichen (Cerothallia luteoalba). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/orange-fruited-elm-lichen