ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > LECANORALES > Cladoniaceae

Common name:             'Scruffy lichen' - more of a local term, rather than a common name  

Synonyms:                     Cladonia anomaea

Habitat:                           Heathland, and wooded areas

Substrata:                       Acidic sandy soil and rotting tree stumps

Growth forms:               Terricolous, lignicolous                   

Basal thallus:                  Squamulose

Secondary thallus:         Podetia

Apothecia:                     Lecideine, brown fruits

BLS identity rating:        Graded 2/5 (visual identification relatively easy with care)

An extremely variable, often scruffy-looking species; basal squamules small, elongate, indented, and somewhat fragile as easily broken when dry, mostly sparse; upper surface described as green-grey or greenish, turning more yellowish when wet; underside whitish, often showing where squamules are raised or where the margins are turned up. 

Podetia usually present, sometimes grouped, forming tufts, otherwise sparse; often short, but typically around 10-30mm tall; either erect and tapering or irregular and lopsided with poorly developed narrow scyphi; unbranched or variably branched towards the apices; surface variously squamulose, often peeling, leaving the podetia almost decorticate in places or, in part, granular-scabrid; greenish-brown, although the general appearance varies greatly dependent on age, growth form and how scruffy the podetia have become.

Apothecia frequent, pale to medium brown, typically forming distinctive convex clusters at the apices, somewhat overblown, and semi-translucent when wet.

The variable nature of this species has given rise to numerous descriptions by different authors often referring to specific forms or varieties - the description here comes from various sources, adjusted in part to fit the specimens that I've personally encountered.

Cladonia ramulosa can be found on both inland and coastal sandy heathland, and moorland, but also on rotting tree stumps in woods, earth banks and, occasionally, on fence posts.