A review ofRinodina(Physciaceae) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park highlights the growing significance of this “island of biodiversity” in eastern North America

A comprehensive review of the crustose lichen genus Rinodina in Great Smoky Mountains National Park identifies 17 species, including three newly reported (R. bullata, R. excrescens, and R. oxydata) and one described as new to science (R. brodoana). The latter is restricted to old-growth hardwoods at middle to low elevations, with two species (R. brodoana and R. chrysomelaena) proposed for critically endangered IUCN Red List status. The study underscores the biodiversity significance of mid-to-low elevation habitats in this Appalachian hotspot, providing revised North American distributions, ecological insights, and a key to 21 Rinodina species in the southern Appalachians.

Lendemer, J. C., Tripp, E. A., & Sheard, J. (2014). A review ofRinodina(Physciaceae) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park highlights the growing significance of this “island of biodiversity” in eastern North America. The Bryologist, 117(3), 259–281. https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-117.3.259