Omphalora arizonica

Very distinct according to Tom Nash, ASU. See Nash, et al. 1990, Lichenologist 22(4):355-365.

Omphalora arizonica is a rare lichen although it has a relatively wide range and imprecise habitat requirements. Egan (1972) suggests that it was once much more widely distributed in the southwestern United States but is now surviving well in only a few areas and in some areas appears to be almost extinct.

Omphalora arizonica has sporadic distribution in the mountains in: Santa Cruz and Apache counties, Arizona; Bernalillo, Lincoln, Otero, San Miquel, Union, and Dona Ana counties, New Mexico; Larimer, Mineral and Saguache counties, Colorado (Egan, 1972; Arizona State University Lichen Herbarium; New Mexico Natural Heritage Program records). Records from Washington and Wyoming were misidentifications (Egan, 1972). It is also notable that Omphalora arizonica was absent from the Chircahua Mountains where it would be expected (Weber, 1963).

The random occurrence of O. arizonica within its range is emphasized by its absence from the Chiricahua Mountains (Weber, 1963) which are just east of type locality in the Santa Rita Mountains, AZ. Egan (1972) suggests that it was once much more widely distributed in the southwestern United States but is now surviving well in only a few areas and in some areas appears to be (almost) extinct.

There are likely less than 20 extant EOs.

The reason for its variable abundance at different locations is unknown. Threats appear to be few. Threats include air pollution that is likely to be a problem only in a few parts of its range. Mechanical disturbance such as rock climbing may impose a threat in locations such as the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico but is unlikely to be a significant concern.