PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Pale Soil Ruby (Heppia lutosa)

Heppia_lutosa.jpg

 

 

 

 

10010.jpg

Photo by Curtis Bjork

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Pale Soil Ruby (Heppia lutosa), a Wisconsin Special Concern lichen, is found on soil on steep sunny bluff prairies in southwest Wisconsin.

 
 
 

Pale soil ruby is a squamulose or granulose lichen with apothecia that are common and stalkless, dark red discs up to 1.7mm wide. The thallus is black or brown, gelatinous, and lacking upper and lower cortices causing it to appear granular.

It may resemble one of the jelly lichens (Collema species) but but its thallus is squamulose or granular (vs foliose). There are no other species of Heppia in Wisconsin.

Pale soil ruby is found on soil on steep sunny bluff prairies in southwest Wisconsin.

Associates include dry prairie species on sandstone or limestone.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.