Possibly Cladonia gracilis with apothecia

[pleb]

Hi,

Sorry about the poor quality of these photos. I would like to put this lichen forward as Cladonia gracilis with apothecia. Growing on granite boulder in the open on the western edge of Dartmoor close to the Dewerstone (near Shaugh Bridge)

I have looked at Alan Silverside's pics and notes on this species and also the pics of Stephen Sharnoff as well as reading the description in 'The Lichen Flora' of Purvis et al.

I would like to learn more about Cladonia and their identification and I hope some of you can comment on these pictures (and to be honest I am hoping for a bit of encouragement that I am on the right track).

Phil

[synangium]

Hi Phil,

No idea, I'm afraid - out of my depth! I haven't found C. gracilis in my neck of the woods, never mind in its apothecial state, although I can see there are a few podetia that look like what we suspected was C. gracilis previously.

One for Alan or Jenny methinks.

Nigel

[pleb]

Hi Nigel,

I am hoping that Alan or Jenny might possibly give an opinion on the possible C. gracilis with apothecia.

Just about to put up another Cladonia from yesterday's search which looks to me like C. squamosa which, I guess, most people will be familiar with.

Thanks again,

Phil

[AlanS]

I am afraid we need better photographs, i.e. with better focus and resolution.

Photos 1 & 4 do look like C. gracilis, but photos 2 & 3 look more like C. ramosa, so maybe you have two species here (they can grow together).

I am not going to be definite on these.

Alan
(Noting, to my own surprise, that C. ramosa is not up on my site yet. Will fix this as/when/if I ever get time for the planned Cladonia upgrade).

[pleb]

Yes, I am sorry about the quality of the pics. They are not up to standard.

The similarity to Cladonia ramulosa struck me, too, with those clusters of apothecia. But having just checked the specimen again, the smooth podetia appears identical to the other specimens with the tiny cups which Alan agrees are probably C. gracilis and unlike any C. ramulosa I have seen, although it concerns me how 'butch' the lichen is with the apothecia in contrast to the slim outlines of the others.

If I return to the site I will try and get better quality photos.

Phil