Coenogonium missouriense Jos.S. Davis (1994:188)
Onyx Cave lichen, Missouri cave lichen
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Conservation Status
Missing (Low, 2009; NatureServe, 2026)
Last record: 1992 (Davis, 1994:186)
"The Missouri cave lichen has only been found in one place on earth, Onyx Cave in Pulaski County. The tiny communities lived in the twilight zone at the back of the cave’s mouth. Clinging tightly to the dolomite rock, they formed 1- to 2-mm mats resembling cobblestones. Several microscopic plants and animals made their homes in the pale green patchwork. In 1990, the cave was turned into a tourist attraction. Resulting changes in light and air flow might have killed the lichens, which have not been observed since. Lichenologists still hope to rediscover the species at Onyx Cave or another location."
(Low, 2009:5)
Distribution & Habitat
Onyx Cave, Pulasky County, Missouri, USA
Anatomy & Morphology
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Original scientific description:
Davis, Joseph S. (1994). Coenogium missouriense, a new lichen species from Missouri. Bryologist 97(2): 186-189. https://doi.org/10.2307/3243760
Other references:
Davis, Joseph S. (2002). Comments on Coenogonium missouriense, a unique microlichen from a cave in central Missouri. Trans. Missouri Academy of Science 36: 63-65.
Davis, Joseph S., Rands, D. G. and Lachapelle, M. (1989). Heavily lichenized Physolinum (Chlorophyta) from a dimly lit cave in Missouri. Journal of Phycology 25: 419-428.
Esslinger, T. L. (2018). A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada, Version 22. Opuscula Philolichenum 17: 6-268.
Esslinger, T. L. and Egan, R. S. (1995). A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4): 467-549.
IndexFungorum. (2026). Published on the Internet https://www.indexfungorum.org, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [Retrieved 18 August 2026]
Low, Jim. (2009). Species of concern: Missouri Cave Lichen (Plants & Animals). Missouri Conservationist 70(2): 5.
NatureServe. (2026). Coenogonium missouriense: Missouri Cave Lichen. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at: https://explorer.natureserve.org/ [Accessed on 18 August 2026]
Species Fungorum. (2026). Published on the Internet https://www.speciesfungorum.org, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [Retrieved 18 August 2026]