Turban Lichen
EN

Turban Lichen

Cladonia peziziformis

Unknown

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

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Turban Lichen faces severe decline due to habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from industrial sources, disrupts the delicate chemical balance required for this slow-growing lichen's survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing temperature extremes that stress lichen communities.

Threat summary

Habitat

Turban Lichen grows on acidic soils in open heathlands, moorlands, and sandy grasslands, typically in areas with low nutrient levels and minimal disturbance. It favors well-drained, exposed sites with sparse vegetation cover, often found on sandy banks, path edges, and disturbed ground in coastal and inland heath systems.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Cladoniaceae

Star-tipped Reindeer LichenEN

Star-tipped Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia stellaris

Unknown
Cladonia subcervicornisVU

Cladonia subcervicornis

Unknown
VU

Humble Pixie-cup Lichen

Cladonia humilis

Unknown
Felt Horn LichenVU

Felt Horn Lichen

Cladonia phyllophora

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Turban Lichen classified as Endangered?
Turban Lichen is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Turban Lichen faces severe decline due to habitat degradation from agricultural intensification and urban development across its limited European range. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition from industrial sources, disrupts the delicate chemical balance required for this slow-growing lichen's survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing temperature extremes that stress lichen communities.
Where does Turban Lichen live?
Turban Lichen occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Turban Lichen?
The main threats to Turban Lichen are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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