vs Spiny Heath Lichen

Cetraria sepincola compared with Cetraria aculeata

Key Differences

• is Vulnerable while Spiny Heath Lichen is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Spiny Heath Lichen
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class same	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order same	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)
Family same	Parmeliaceae	Parmeliaceae
Genus same	Cetraria	Cetraria
Species	Cetraria sepincola	Cetraria aculeata

Evolutionary Relationship

and Spiny Heath Lichen share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Cetraria.

Conservation Status

VU — Vulnerable

Spiny Heath Lichen

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Spiny Heath Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Spiny Heath Lichen

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia).

Cetraria sepincola is a small foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae, assessed as Vulnerable (VU). It grows on the bark of shrubs and young trees, particularly in boreal and montane environments. Its vulnerable status reflects ongoing habitat loss and the sensitivity of this species to air quality and microclimate changes.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States