ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > LECANORALES > Cladoniaceae

Common name:             Common Powderhorn

Synonyms:                      -

Habitat:                           Woodland

Substrata:                       Base of trees, decaying wood

Growth forms:               Corticolous, lignicolous       

Basal thallus:                  Squamulose

Secondary thallus:         Podetia, slightly curved, mostly pointed

Apothecia:                     Lecideine, but usually infertile

BLS identity rating: Graded 1/5 (should be relatively easy)

Variable; primary thallus dull green above, brighter green when wet, pale below; often sorediate in the lower part; squamules with incised tips; forming extensive patches.

Podetia grey-green, greener when wet; usually 10-35mm tall, although sometimes up to 50mm; slender and unbranched, but often with a slight curve; mostly pointed at the tips; or occasionally with a very narrow cup that may hardly exceed the breadth of the podetium; predominantly farinose-sorediate, but usually with a persistent, albeit variable, corticate zone at least at the base.

Apothecia rare, brown, on tips of podetia; pycnidia brown to black, on tips of podetia or around the cup margins.

Common in woods, mainly occurring on decaying stumps and logs, also around the base of acid-barked trees and, very occasionally, may be found growing on humus-rich acid soils.