vs Coastal Ragweed

Cliostomum corrugatum compared with Ambrosia hispida

Key Differences

• is Endangered while Coastal Ragweed is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Coastal Ragweed
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Ramalinaceae	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Cliostomum	Ambrosia
Species	Cliostomum corrugatum	Ambrosia hispida

Conservation Status

EN — Endangered

Coastal Ragweed

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Coastal Ragweed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Coastal Ragweed

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Cuba.

Cliostomum corrugatum is a crustose lichen in the family Ramalinaceae, notable for producing characteristically wrinkled or corrugated apothecia that distinguish it from related taxa. The genus Cliostomum is a small group of saxicolous and corticolous crustose lichens with a disjunct distribution in temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and North America. The thallus of Cliostomum corrugatum is thin and pale, often nearly immersed in the bark substrate on which it grows, while the pale tan to cream apothecia are flat to slightly convex with the distinctive corrugated or rugose surface. The species is found on the bark of deciduous trees in old, undisturbed woodland, including veteran oaks, beeches, and other broadleaved trees with stable, relatively unpolluted bark chemistry. Cliostomum species are considered indicators of ecological continuity in woodland habitats and are included in lists of ancient woodland indicator species in northwestern Europe. The species is sensitive to air pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds from agricultural and industrial sources, and declined significantly across industrialized regions of Britain and Europe during the 20th century. Recovery has been noted in areas where air quality has improved. The species is of conservation concern in several European countries.

Coastal Ragweed

Coastal ragweed (Ambrosia hispida) is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae, native to the coastal dunes, sandy beaches, and cays of Cuba, the Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean region. It grows in pioneer beach and dune vegetation, often forming spreading colonies that help stabilise loose coastal sands. Like other members of the genus Ambrosia, it bears inconspicuous greenish-white flowers arranged in racemes; male flower heads produce wind-dispersed pollen that can trigger allergic rhinitis in sensitive individuals. The deeply lobed, hispid leaves are adapted to reflect intense solar radiation and tolerate salt spray. Coastal ragweed plays an ecological role in early dune succession, binding sand and enabling other plant species to establish. The genus is widespread globally, with several Ambrosia species considered noxious weeds in agricultural settings, though Ambrosia hispida is restricted to its native Caribbean coastal range. The IUCN assesses it as Least Concern, reflecting adequate population size across its Caribbean coastal distribution. Pressure from coastal development and tourism infrastructure poses a localised threat to dune communities it inhabits.