Lichens Of Soldiers Delight

Lichen, a nature reserve located in Baltimore County, Maryland.

The Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area

The Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area (Soldiers Delight NEA) is an environmentally sensitive area consisting of of land, and a visitor center, that is owned by the state of Maryland and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The land consists of both serpentine barren and upland forest habitats.

Chromite was mined at Soldiers Delight NEA until 1860 by Isaac Tyson, and some of the old mine shafts are still present. Four marked trails transverse the area and are a favorite hiking place for both humans and dogs.

The most distinctive feature about Soldiers Delight NEA is the number of rare and endangered plants that occur on the serpentine barrens, including some of the wildflowers of Soldiers Delight. These endangered species include the sandplain gerardia, serpentine aster, flameflower, and fringed gentian.gsa.confex.com
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Lichenology at Soldiers Delight NEA

Lichenology began at the Soldiers Delight NEA in 1976, when Allen C. Skorepa, Arnold Nordenbr>
and Donald Windler were awarded a grant from the Power Plant Siting Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to survey the lichens of Maryland. They surveyed the lichens from many areas throughout the state; one of which was Soldiers Delight. In 1977, they published their results and reported one location for each species of lichen that they identified. Thus, while they may have collected a particular species from numerous places they documented only one. So while they found numerous species of lichens at Soldiers Delight, only a few got recorded in their publication.

Dr. Elmer G. Worthley of Baltimore County also had an interest in lichens and collected throughout Maryland and New England, but the Soldiers Delight Area was one of his favorite places.

All of the lichens collected by Skorepa, Norden, and Windler were deposited in the herbarium at Towson University, Baltimore, Maryland. And all of the lichens in Elmer Worthley's herbarium were sent to the Lichen Herbarium at the New York Botanical Garden in 2001.

Lichen reference acronyms

The following list of lichen species found at Soldiers Delight is based upon these three sources, with acronyms used below:
*1977 publication by Skorepa, Norden and Windler ,N,W''
*the species of lichens from Soldiers Delight in Elmer Worthley's personal herbarium GW''
*Ed Uebel's observations CU''

Listings

*'' Acarospora fuscata''
CUGrowing on a boulder along west side of Deer Park Road; N 39^o24.909' W 076^o50.171' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Acarospora schleicheri''
,N,WGrowing on serpentine rock.
*''Anaptychia palmulata''
CUGrowing on bark at the base of a white oak in a woodland on the western side of Deer Park Road, south of the Visitor's Center Entrance. N 39^o24.576' W 076^o50.152' Google Ma

(9 May 2006) U-589
*''Aspicilia cinerea''
CUGrowing on a boulder along the edge of the woodland on the western side of the power line clearing uphill from Locust Run; Elevation ; N 39^o24.218' W 076^o50.582' Google Ma

(19 July 2006)
*'' Bacidia schweinitzii''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on ''Fraxinus americana'' about above the ground. (6 April 1983) L-453
*'' Buellia spuria''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrops in open field. (9 March 1980) L-125
*''Caloplaca citrina''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; near the MD Historical Marker at the Overlook, on rocks at top of slope with ''Placynthium nigrum''. (28 September 1985) L-535
CUGrowing on mortar on the wall of Red Dog Lodge; N 39^o24.600' W 076^o50.419' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Caloplaca feracissima''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrop in open field. (9 March 1980)
CUGrowing on cement at the base of light pole in front of the Visitor's Center; N 39^o24.609' W 076^o50.325' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a big rock near the metal gate under the BG&E high power lines at Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.141' W 076^o50.487' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Caloplaca flavovirescens''
CUGrowing on a small stone about north of the Overlook Parking Area on Deer Park Road; N 39^o24.880' W 076^o50.152' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Caloplaca lobulata'' (
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley, identified by Dr. Allen Skorepa; growing in full sunlight in open glade in oak-Virginia pine woods. (27 January 1979) LH-22
*''Caloplaca sideritis''
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley, identified by Dr. Allen Skorepa; growing on rock outcrop in full sun. (27 January 1979) LH-21
*'' Candelaria concolor''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on bark of ''Acer rubrum'' in woods opposite the Overlook. (3 April 1983) L-459
CUGrowing on bark of red maple along the Orange Trail (Red Run Trail) east of the intersection of the Orange-Red-Yellow Trails; N 39^o24.732' W 076^o49.658' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Candelariella vitellina''
GWCollected by A. Norden and B. Norden, along Dolfield Road, on rock in full sun. (27 August 1973) L-464
GWCollected and identified by EGW, along Dolfield Road, on rock outcrops in open field. (9 March 1980) L-644
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley, identified by Allen C. Skorepa, on serpentine rocks in open field. (11 May 1980) L-594
CUGrowing on a boulder on the west side of Deer Park Road near the Overlook Parking Area; N 39^o24.892' W 076^o50.161' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Catapyrenium cinereum''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on bare places among clumps of ''Andropogon scoparius'' and ''Aristida dichotoma'' (8 January 1984) L-572
*'' Circinaria caesiocinerea''
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley and identified by Arnold Norden, on rock south side of Ward's Chapel Road. (24 December 1983) L-430
CUGrowing on a large rock along west side of Deer Park Road north of the Overlook; N 39^o24.888' W 076^o50.156' Google Ma

(June 2003)
* Cladonia apodocarpa, ''Cladonia apodocarp''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil in open woods across from Overlook. (6 April 1983) L-5
CUGrowing on soil near the intersection of Deer Park Road and the old gravel road leading to the Visitor's Center. N 39^o24.728' W 076^o50.142' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on soil in a field near the metal gate under the BG&E high power lines at Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.144' W 076^o50.468' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia arbuscula''
,N,WGrowing under pines.
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil under ''Pinus virginiana''. (28 September 1985) L-96
CUGrowing on soil south of Dolfield Road; N 39^o24.110' W 076^o49.374' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia atlantica''
,N,WOn soil under pines.
*'' Cladonia boryi'' (probably a misidentification)
*'' Cladonia caespiticia'' Flörke
CUOn very rotten wood in the woodland south of Dolfield Road; N 39^o24.146' W 076^o49.242' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia cariosa''
GWCollected and identified by Elmer Worthley; on rock outcrop in open field near Ward's Chapel Road. (9 March 1980) L-9
*'' Cladonia caroliniana''
CUGrowing on soil c. west of the picnic tables near Red Dog Lodge. (June 2003)
*''Cladonia chlorophaea''
,N,WGrowing on rotting wood in open woods.
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrop in open field near Ward's Chapel Road. (9 March 1980) L-22
*''Cladonia ciliata'' var. ''tenuis''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on sterile soil with ''Andropogon scoparius''. (16 December 1949) LH-28 (a misidentification)
*'' Cladonia coccifera''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil under ''Quercus stellata''. (3 April 1983) L-23 (a misidentification of a form of ''Cladonia cristatella'')
*''Cladonia coniocraea''
CUOn a rock at a rock pile near a rusty tub along the Serpentine Trail (south section); N 39^o24.483' W 076^o51.031' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on an old carpet in a woodland located at the SW corner of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o24.465' W 076^o51.034' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia cristatella'' (AKA British Soldiers)
,N,WGrowing on rotting wood in open woods.
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil around bases of ''Andropogon''. (16 December 1949) LH-23
CUGrowing about midway up the grassy hillside between the woodland and power lines near the Serpentine Trail (White Trail); N 39^o24.686' W 076^o50.492' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia gracilis'' subsp. ''gracilis''
,N,WOn soil among grasses.
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil in woods opposite the Overlook. (6 April 1983) L-50
*''Cladonia grayi''
CUGrowing at the base of a small tree stump (only several inches high) close to the Serpentine Trail (south section); N 39^o24.524' W 076^o51.041' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia macilenta'' var. ''bacillaris''
,N,WGrowing on trees in open woods.
*''Cladonia parasitica''
CUGrowing on a dead limb on the ground. Down hill from the log cabin cellar near a stream.; N 39^o24.340' W 076^o50.303' Google Ma

(31 May 2006) U-601
*'' Cladonia peziziformis''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil under ''Pinus virginiana'' near the Overlook. (3 April 1983) L-62
CUGrowing on top of a pile of asphalt near the beginning of the north section of the Red Trail; N 39^o24.913' W 076^o50.127' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia pleurota''
,N,WOn soil under pines.
CUGrowing on soil along the wood edge on the eastern side of the power line clearing north of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o25.042' W 076^o50.462' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on an old piece of cotton cloth at the edge of a woodland west of Deer Park Road; N 39^o24.439' W 076^o50.085' Google Ma

(13 May 2006)
*'' Cladonia rei''
CUGrowing along the gravel road between Deer Park Road and the Visitor's Center; N 39^o24.699' W 076^o50.186' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Cladonia squamosa''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrops in open field. (9 March 1980) LH-25
*''Cladonia subcariosa''
Syn.: ''Cladonia sobolescens''
Syn.: ''Cladonia clavulifera''
CUAn extensive patch of this lichen can be found growing near the metal gate under the high voltage power lines along Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.130' W 076^o50.487' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Cladonia subtenuis''
,N,WGrowing on soil under scrub pines.
GWCollected and identified by EGW; growing near Ward's Chapel Road under Virginia pine. (11 May 1980) L-583
CUGrowing along the western section of the Dolfield Trail (Yellow Trail), about midway between the intersection of the Red-Orange-Yellow Trails and Dolfield Road; N 39^o24.407' W 076^o49.497' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing along the Serpentine Trail near a large pile of wood chips; N 39^o24.611' W 076^o50.620' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Cladonia uncialis''
,N,WGrowing on serpentine soil under pines.
*'' Dibaeis baeomyces''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on soil of road bank. (15 March 1980) & L-423
*''Flavoparmelia baltimorensis''
CUGrowing on a rock in a woodland near the trail behind the Visitor's Center; N 39^o24.542' W 076^o50.370' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on "lichen rock", in the woodland on the west side of the power line clearing between the White (Serpentine) Trail and Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o24.970' W 076^o50.526' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Flavoparmelia caperata''
,N,WGrowing on rocks in open area.
CUGrowing on bark of a fallen oak limb along the Serpentine Trail east of the SW corner; N 39^o24.477' W 076^o51.005' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Hypocenomyce scalaris''
GWCollected and identified by A. Norden and B. Ball; on trunk of pine at edge of open field along Ward's Chapel Road. (16 February 1974) L-466
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley and identified by Arnold "Butch" Norden; at base of ''Pinus virginiana'', from ground level up about l foot. Tree located about 100 yards downhill from Red Dog Lodge. (8 January 1984) L-467
*'' Imshaugia aleurites''
GWCollected and identified by B. Ball and A. Norden; on scrub pines along Dolfield Road. (14 April 1974) L-262
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on bark of ''Pinus virginiana''. (6 April 1983) L-266
CUGrowing on bark of a Virginia pine near the intersection of the Red-Yellow-Orange Trails; N 39^o24.728' W 076^o49.753' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Imshaugia placorodia''
GWCollected and identified by A. Norden and B. Ball; on branches of scrub pines along Dolfield Road. (14 April 1974) L-268
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on branches of Virginia pine; often grows with ''Imshaugia aleurites'' and ''Ahtiana aurescens''. (9 March 1980) L-269
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on bark of ''Pinus virginiana'', opposite the Overlook. (3 April 1983) L-270
Growing on a pole-like stump of a dead Virginia pine sticking out into the trail north of Dolfield Road; N 39^o24.242' W 076^o49.338' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Lecanora caesiorubella''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on bark of black oak about above ground; in oak-hickory woods. (10 December 1983) L-474
GWCollected by Elmer Worthley, identified by Arnold "Butch" Norden; on bark of dead ''Betula nigra'' about above ground. (19 December 1983) L-472
*'' Lecanora expallens''
GWCollected identified by EGW; on decorticated stump of ''Juniperus virginiana''. (6 April 1983) L-476
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on dead decorticated branch lying on the ground. (December 1983) L-478
*''Lecanora strobilina''
CUGrowing on a fallen dead oak branch in the woodland north of Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.040' W 076^o51.175' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Lecidella carpathica''
CUGrowing on a boulder along the edge of the woodland on the western side of the power line clearing uphill from Locust Run; Elevation ; N 39^o24.218' W 076^o50.582' Google Ma

(19 July 2006)
*'' Lecidella stigmatea''
CUGrowing on a boulder along the edge of the woodland on the western side of the power line clearing uphill from Locust Run; Elevation ; N 39^o24.218' W 076^o50.582' Google Ma

(19 July 2006)
*''Lepraria lobificans''
CUGrowing at the base of a Virginia pine near where the Serpentine Trail crosses a stream; N 39^o24.483' W 076^o51.031' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Lepraria neglecta''
CUGrowing on a boulder marking the beginning of the north section of the Red Trail close to Deer Park Road; N 39^o24.919' W 076^o50.163' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Myelochroa aurulenta''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; associated with ''Lecanora caesiorubella'', on bark of black oak about above ground, in oak-hickory woods. (10 December 1983) L-474
CUGrowing at the base of a large oak tree along the gravel road in the section north of Ward's Chapel Road. (June 2003)
*'' Parmelia sulcata''
GWCollected and identified by a botany student. (5 December 1978) L-293
*'' Parmelinopsis minarum''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on decorticated branch, just southwest of big pipe under Dolfield Road. L-299
*''Parmotrema hypotropum''
CUGrowing on bark of a chestnut oak along the Orange Trail between the Orange-Red-Yellow Trail intersection and the Orange-Yellow Trail intersection; N 39^o24.692' W 076^o49.510' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a rock in the woodland east of the BG&E high voltage power lines north of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o24.896' W 076^o50.447' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a large rock in the woodland west of the BG&E high voltage power lines north of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o24.970' W 076^o50.526' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Pertusaria paratuberculilfera''
CUGrowing on bark on the trunk of a fallen oak near Locust Run on the western side of the power lines; elevation ; N 39^o24.142' W 076^o50.351' Google Ma

(9 July 2006) U-632
*'' Phaeophyscia pusilloides''
CUGrowing on ''Ailanthus altissima'' near the old Chromite Mill foundation in the section north of Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.020' W 076^o51.150' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Phaeophyscia rubropulchra''
Growing on bark of ''Ailanthus altissima'' near the old Chromite Mill foundation in the section north of Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.020' W 076^o51.150' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Physcia adscendens''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on marble of old grave stone, growing with ''Physconia detersa'', ''Lecanora dispersa'' and ''Xanthomendoza fallax''. (19 December 1983) L-145
*''Physcia aipolia''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrop. (9 March 1980) L-153
*''Physcia millegrana''
CUGrowing on a pole-like tree trunk directly in front of the Overlook Parking Area on Deer Park Road; N 39^o24.863' W 076^o50.154' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a woodland rock near the picnic tables south of Red Dog Lodge; N 39^o24.604' W 076^o50.440' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Physcia subtilis''
CUGrowing on a boulder on the west side of Deer Park Road north of the Overlook Parking Area; N 39^o24.897' W 076^o50.162' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Physconia detersa''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on old marble gravestone. Growing with ''Phaeophyscia adiastola, Lecanora dispersa'' and ''Xanthomendoza fallax''. (19 December 1983) L-174
*'' Placidium lacneum''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrop in open field. (9 March 1980) L-575
*'' Porpidia albocaerulescens''
,N,WOn rock outcrops.
CUGrowing on a small rock about south of the paved driveway in the woodland close to the Yellow (Dolfield) Trail; N 39^o24.484' W 076^o49.357' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Porpidia crustulata''
*'' Porpidia macrocarpa''
CUGrowing on a rock in a pile of rocks near a rusty tub along the south section of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o24.483' W 076^o51.031' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Psorula rufonigra''
,N,WGrowing on rock in serpentine barrens.
*'' Punctelia rudecta''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on ''Quercus marilandica'', near Dolfield Road on downstream side from the big pipeline under the road. (19 December 1983) L-339
CUGrowing on bark at the base of a Virginia pine along the Orange Trail east of the intersection of the Orange-Red-Yellow Trails; N 39^o24.736' W 076^o49.653' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing at the base of an oak along the Serpentine Trail near Deer Park Road north of the Overlook Area; N 39^o24.889' W 076^o50.384' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Punctelia subrudecta''
,N,WGrowing on trunks of pines.
GWCollected and identified by A. Norden and B. Ball; on trunks of pines in dry portions of the serpentine barrens. (11 April 1974) L-340
CUOn trunk of Virginia pine with a large poison ivy vine attached to it; along the Serpentine Trail near a barbed wire fence west of Red Dog Lodge; N 39^o24.490' W 076^o50.965' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a pine cone found on the ground under a Virginia pine near the cattle fence west of Red Dog Lodge; N 39^o24.490' W 076^o50.965' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Pycnothelia papillaria''
CUGrowing on bare soil near the intersection of the Red-Yellow-Orange Trails; N 39^o24.733' W 076^o49.746' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on bare soil along the Orange Trail about east of the intersection of the Red-Yellow-Orange Trails; N 39^o24.728' W 076^o49.709' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Pyxine sorediata''
CUGrowing on an old blue carpet in a woodland at the SW corner of the Serpentine Trail; N 39^o24.465' W 076^o51.034' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Rimelia reticulata''
GW(no information) L-351
*'' Tuckermanella fendleri''
,N,WOn branches of pines.
*'' Tuckermannopsis ciliaris''
,N,WOn branches of pines.
GWCollected and identified by A. Norden and B. Ball; on branches of scrub pines in moist areas. (11 April 1974) L-353
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on dead decorticated limb of ''Pinus virginiana'', near Dolfield Road in pine woods near downstream end of pipe under the road. (1 January 1983) L-355
CUGrowing on a shrub near the stream north of Dolfield Road; N 39^o24.208' W 076^o49.320' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*''Verrucaria nigrescens''
,N,WGrowing on serpentine rock.
CUGrowing on a serpentine rock in a field west of Deer Park Road, in the vicinity of a small stream; Elevation , N 39^o24.391' W 076^o50.080' Google Ma

(31 May 2006) U-599

*''Xanthoparmelia conspersa''
GWCollected and identified by EGW; on rock outcrop in open field, with ''Cladonia squamosa''. (9 March 1980) L-395
*''Xanthoparmelia plittii''
CUGrowing on a boulder along the west side of Deer Park Road near the Overlook Parking Area; N 39^o24.883' W 076^o50.153' Google Ma

(June 2003)
CUGrowing on a large rock near the metal gate under the BG&E high power lines at Ward's Chapel Road; N 39^o25.144' W 076^o50.480' Google Ma

(June 2003)
*'' Xanthoparmelia stenophylla''
GWSyn. ''Xanthoparmelia somloënsis'' (Gyelnik) Hale. Collected and identified by EGW (no data) L-604

See also

*List of lichens of Maryland
*List of ferns and fern allies of Soldiers Delight
*List of graminoids of Soldiers Delight
*List of woody plants of Soldiers Delight
*List of wildflowers of Soldiers Delight

External links

Maryland Dept. Natural Resources — "Guide to the Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area"

References

*Flenniken, Don G. 1999. ''The Macrolichens in West Virginia''. Carlisle Printing, Sugar Creek Ohio 44681, 231 pages plus plates.
*Lee, David S. 1991. ''Elmer George Worthley- A Maryland Naturalist''. The Maryland Naturalist. Volume 35 (Number 1–4), pages 3–10.
*Norden, Arnold W. 1991. ''Editor's Page (Obituary of Dr. Elmer G. Worthley)''. The Maryland Naturalist. Volume 35 (Number 1–4), pages 1–2.
*Skorepa publications (see Allen C. Skorepa).
*Thomson, John W. 1967. ''The Lichen Genus Cladonia in North America''. University of Toronto Press, Canada, 172 pages.
*Uebel, Edward C. 2000
''Maryland Bryophytes Collected by Elmer G. Worthley''
The Maryland Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 4877, Silver Spring, Maryland 20914, 100 pages.
*Wennerstrom, Jack. 1995. ''Soldiers Delight Journal. Exploring a Globally Rare Ecosystem''. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, 247 pages.

{{Flora of the United States by political division, state=expanded

Lists of lichens
Soldiers Delight
Soldiers Delight related