Irish lichens

Cladonia polydactyla

Order: Lecanorales       Family: Cladoniaceae

Species: Cladonia polydactyla

Primary thallus squamulose, secondary thallus fruticose.
Photos: On rotting post and wall. Gougane Barra, Cork, SW Ireland. Identified by John Douglass

Very variable. Small bluish-green primary squamules, tips incised, orange-brown (K+ purple-red) at base. Grey podetia are squamulose below, farinose-sorediate above, more/less branched. Cups when present often with secondary podetia on margins. Apothecia and pycnidia are frequent, bright red.

Widespread on rotting wood, among moss and on peat and soil. Frequent on heaths and in woodlands. Thallus K+ yellow-orange, C-, KC-, P+ orange, UV-

Similar: Cladonia macilenta


Cladonia polydactyla

Cladonia polydactyla

Cladonia polydactyla

Cladonia polydactyla
Cladonia polydactyla. August and November 2009

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