ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > LECANORALES > Cladoniaceae

Common name:             Devil's Matchsticks

Synonyms:                     Cladonia macilenta ssp.floerkeana

Habitat:                           Heathland

Substrata:                       Stumps, rotting wood, acid soil

Growth forms:               Lignicolous, terricolous                   

Basal thallus:                  Squamulose

Secondary thallus:         Podetia, short, without cups

Apothecia:                     Lecideine, red fruits

BLS identity rating:        Graded 1/5 (identification should be straightforward)

Basal squamules very small, slightly incised, inconspicuous, but forming a persistent thin grey-greenish mat.

Podetia usually short, rarely over 20mm tall, without scyphi, but sometimes slightly expanding, generally unbranched, but occasionally diverging near the apices, more or less entirely corticate or becoming partially decorticate especially towards the apices, very frequently with coarse granules, or entirely densely squamulose; pale to dark grey, tinged brown in exposed locations.

Apothecia common, often abundant, bright scarlet to dark red, single or clustered on the head of the podetia, somewhat globular, and often joining to form rings.

Cladonia floerkeana is very closely related to Cladonia macilenta, which often occurs in similar habitat, growing together or in close proximity. Cladonia macilenta has slightly smaller apothecia on podetia that, on average, are a little taller. The main distinguishing feature though, when trying to differentiate between the two species, is that Cladonia macilenta is always partly to wholly finely sorediate.

The primary habitat locally is heathland, or on moorland further west and north, where the species grows in open situations amongst heather and other low vegetation or, very often, on old stumps, or fallen rotting trunks; also on old weathered fence posts, boardwalks etc.

The fifth specimen featured below looks rather like the upland species Cladonia bellidiflora, but is actually considered to be an unusual densely squamulose developing morph (as per Cladonia expert Neil Sanderson).