Taxon Report
Ramalina thrausta (Ach.) Nyl.angel's hair lichen |
 © 2013 Scot Loring |
Taxon Summary
Ramalina thrausta, commonly known as angel's hair lichen, is a fruticose lichen (epiphytic) in the Ramalinaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within North Coast coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 75 to 430 meters. Ramalina thrausta is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.Classification
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Scientific Name: |
Ramalina thrausta (Ach.) Nyl. |
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Common Name: |
angel's hair lichen |
| Family: | Ramalinaceae |
| Element Code: | NLLEC3S340 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | RATH2 |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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Ecology and Life History
| Lifeform: | fruticose lichen (epiphytic) |
| Blooming Period: | |
| Elevation: | 75-430 (245-1410) |
| General Habitats: | North Coast coniferous forest |
| Microhabitat: | |
| Microhabitat Details: | On dead twigs and other lichens |
Conservation Status
| CA Rare Plant Rank: | 2B.1 |
| Global Rank: | G5? |
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State Rank: |
S2S3 |
| State List: | None |
| Fed List: | None |
| Other Status: | |
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CRPR Changes: |
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Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
| Total Occurrences: | 21 |
| Element Occurrence Ranks: | |
| Excellent (A) | 0 |
| Good (B) | 0 |
| Fair (C) | 4 |
| Poor (D) | 0 |
| None (X) | 1 |
| Unknown (U) | 16 |
| California Endemic: False | |
| California Counties and Islands: Name (Code) | |
| Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Mendocino (MEN), Monterey (MNT), Sonoma (SON) | |
| Quads: Name (Quad Code) | |
| Cant Hook Mtn. (4112368), Fort Bragg (3912347), Fort Ross (3812352), Gasquet (4112378), Grouse Mtn. (4012376), High Divide (4112481), Hiouchi (4112471), Longvale (3912354), Mathison Peak (3912336), Mendocino (3912337), Monterey (3612158), Shelly Creek Ridge (4112387) | |
Threat List Data from the CNDDB
| Threat List Total: | 3 | |
| EOs with Threat Listed: | Total EOs | % of EOs |
| 1 | 5 % | |
| Erosion/runoff | 1 | 4% |
| Logging | 1 | 4% |
| Other | 1 | 4% |
Notes
| Known in CA only from the Smith River and its major tributaries in DNT Co., and from a single disjunct occurrence along the Gualala River in SON Co.; needs field surveys. Populations in decline, with net loss of 12.5% of sites in three-year period. In northern CA it is usually found on dead twigs, and has been found on Alnus rubra, Calocedrus decurrens, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus garryana, and Rubus spectabilis. In SON Co. it grows on and among dangling mats of Ramalina menziesii and Usnea spp. Similar to Alectoria sarmentosa, A. vancouverensis, and R. menziesii. |
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Threats: |
| Potentially threatened by air pollution. |
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Taxonomy: |
Selected References
| Ramalina thrausta profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018) |
| USFS Potential Species of Conservation Concern Profile |
| Bulletin of the California Lichen Society 13(1):17 (2006) for CALS Conservation Committee sponsorship. |
Citation
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 January 2025].