Blue star vs Smooth Map Lichen

Amsonia orientalis compared with Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Key Differences

• Blue star is Critically Endangered while Smooth Map Lichen is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue star	Smooth Map Lichen
Kingdom	Plantae (plantas)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Gentianales (Gentianales)	Rhizocarpales (Rhizocarpales)
Family	Apocynaceae	Rhizocarpaceae
Genus	Amsonia	Rhizocarpon
Species	Amsonia orientalis	Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Conservation Status

Blue star

CR — Critically Endangered

Smooth Map Lichen

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue star	Smooth Map Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue star

Habitat

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

Smooth Map Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

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

Blue star

The Blue star (Amsonia orientalis) is a species in the genus Amsonia. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.