Do you think this is Cladonia gracilis?

[pleb]

Hi,

This Cladonia was growing on the western fringe of Dartmoor. Some podetia were pointed and some had very small cups. Can anyone confirm that it is C. gracilis, please? It did seem to match the description in my Flora.

Many thanks in advance,

phil

[synangium]

Hi Phil,

I've been meaning to have a look at this all day.

There is no hint of the typical brown colour, but I think you're right. C. gracilis gets my vote too. It looks too elegant and fine for C. subulata, which can also have cups with wildly proliferating margins, as a couple of podetia here do, and was the only other contender in my mind.

Nigel

[pleb]

Thanks for your opinion, Nigel, I appreciate it.

I want to learn to recognise my local Cladonia, which really interest me, and feedback helps so much.

Phil

[AlanS]

This is good C. subulata. In the second photograph, left-hand side, we see the very long, spike-like projections from the cups, a very typical C. subulata growth form - though like a lot of Cladonia species, C. subulata is horrifically variable.

The podetia are finely and densely sorediate, which rules out C. gracilis.

Other Cladonia spp. in shot of course, notably C. squamosa, right-hand side of photo 2.

Alan

[synangium]

Thanks for setting us straight Alan (and sorry for misleading you Phil). I was wondering about C. subulata, and have seen it in several guises, including with these projections, but never as tall, slender and 'elegant' as this - proof to me that it's even more variable than I realised. Another valuable lesson learned.

Nigel

[pleb]

And thanks from me also, Alan, for putting the record straight.

Cladonia are certainly a challenge to learn but they do become a little easier when someone can point out your mistakes and show you where you are going wrong.

Phil

[diggleken]

agreed phil!
nice shots too - one for me to look out for now..............
Cheers
Ken