Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species - Rawlings ...

Scientific Name Common Name Status Rank
Province: Habitat (Counties of occurrence) N.C. U.S. N.C. Global
Physcia pseudospeciosa A Rosette Lichen SR-T - S1 G1G2
M: mossy rocks in open woods
and high elevation granitic and
sandstone rock outcrops
(Jackson)
Porpidia diversa Boulder Lichen SR-T - S1 G2G3
M: high elevation rocky summits
Porpidia herteliana Boulder Lichen SR-T - S1? G2G3
M: high elevation rocky summits
Sticta limbata Powdered Moon Lichen SR-D - S1 G3G4
M: on bark and over mosses on
trees and rocks
Teloschistes flavicans Sunrise Lichen SR-P - S1 G4
C: on branches of trees and shrubs
or on the ground in open areas,
especially near the coast
(Brunswick, Carteret, Onslow)
Usnea angulata Old Man's Beard SR-P - S1 G3G5
M: on branches of juniper on high
elevation granitic domes
(Jackson, Macon, Swain*)
Xanthoparmelia monticola A Rock-shield Lichen SR-L - S2? G2?
M: high elevation rocky summits
(Bun combe*, Haywood*,
Jackson*, Mitchell*,
Transylvania*)
NORTH CAROLINA PLANT WATCH LIST
The North Carolina Plant Watch List includes plant species which are rare or otherwise threatened with
serious decline, but for which current information does not justify placement on the main list (E, T, C, SR,
or SC). Watch List species are additional indicators of significant habitats, and their presence should be
considered in planning natural area protection efforts, though with less weight than higher priority rare
species and natural communities. The NC NHP maintains paper files on these species, but does not include
them in its map and computer files. Plants placed on this list fall into a number of categories, discussed
below. NC NHP requests additional information about these species, in order to clarify their status and
reclassify them into other appropriate categories.
Reasons for the current placement of rare species on the Watch List rather than at a higher rarity status
(Endangered, Threatened, Candidate, or Significantly Rare) vary . The taxonomic validity of some of these
species is currently in doubt. For others, NC N HP lacks adequate documentation of their historic or present
occurrence in North Carolina. Others are known to be rare in North Carolina, but it appears that they are not
native to the state. For most species, however, their actual rarity is poorly known and we are requesting more
data before such species receive a higher, and more formal, rarity status. A field survey form is provided in
the back of this document. We request that people fill out this survey form and mail it to NC NHP after
visiting occurrences of these species.
The Watch List has been divided into seven categories as follows. A list of Potential "New-to-North
Carolina" species is located after the Watch List.
Watch Category 1 (W1 - rare, but relatively secure) includes rare species whose status in North Carolina
is relatively well known and which appear to be relatively secure at this time. While still notably rare, these
species do not currently require site-specific monitoring and so are not on the main list (E, T, C, SR, or SC).
Many of these species were formerly on the main list; they are retained in this category because they require
a lower level of continued monitoring to ensure their long-term security. NC NHP maintains paper files on
W1 species and requests occurrence data.
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