Cladonia parasite and C. ciliata query

JennyS · #1 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 10:15 PM

Another Cladonia under attack! This was photographed on a mossy, acid upland rock in SW Ireland.

Is the one below Cladonia ciliata? Tested KC-
The photo doesn't show the curved growth very clearly, but it was very noticable at the time. It was on the same mossy rock as the above.

And I'm still searching for Cladonia polydactyla - so much for Dobson saying its common in the West, I still haven't managed to convince myself I've found it!

AlanS · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009, 02:05 PM

Hi Jenny,

W. Ireland does seem to be an unhealthy place for Cladoniae! I can't name the parasite off-hand, maybe I'll be able to suggest something after some checking. Or maybe not.

Yes, Cladonia ciliata var. ciliata, nicely characteristic material.

I associate C. polydactyla often with slightly dryish places - maybe the western tendency in Britain (if true) is more associated with available habitat than climate, and S.W. Ireland is just a little too wet for it?

Alan

JennyS · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 12:07 AM

Hi Alan,

I think W. Ireland is an unhealthy place for summer ........ after the nearly constant rain we've had everything seems to have gone parasitic!
Thanks for confirming the C. ciliata var. ciliata - now I'm wondering if the one below is var. tenuis?

1. Cladonia ciliata var. tenuis?

2. Cladonia arbuscula? On coastal heath, there are pre 2000 records for it from that area ........

I think C. polydactyla finally showed up on a wall a couple of days ago but I'll go back to check in the hope it'll be fruiting.