ASCOMYCOTA | LECANOROMYCETES > LECANORALES > Cladoniaceae

Genus Cladonia, meaning 'branch or twig-like' - specifically relating to these richly branched species

Common name:             Reindeer moss (see Cladonia portentosa)

Synonyms:                     Cladina tenuis, Cladonia sylvatica

Habitat:                           Heathland, upland moors, dunes

Substrata:                       Acid soil, sometimes deadwood

Growth forms:               Terricolous, occasionally lignicolous                      

Basal thallus:                  Crustose, disappearing

Secondary thallus:         Podetia, richly branched

Apothecia:                     -  

BLS identity rating:        Graded 2/5 (should be able to separate to variety)

Basal squamules absent, thallus loose, growing in compact tufts or forming larger interwoven mats up to 60mm tall; often amongst or intermingled with heather or other low vegetation; sometimes extending and joining neighbouring colonies to cover wide areas.

Podetia richly branched; predominantly dichotomous at the apices; axils rarely perforated; young tips slender; terminal branches normally downturned and more or less orientated in one direction.

Colour normally ashy-grey to greenish-yellow-grey with brownish-purple tips.

Apothecia rather rare, brown and inconspicuous.

This species is treated differently by different authors. In most cases, two forms are recognised, var.tenuis as broadly described here and, what I guess is regarded as the nominate form, var.ciliata, which is rarer, and lighter, more greyish or dirty white as it lacks usnic acid. A further form, var.flavicans may also be encountered, which is said to be more of a pale- yellow colour with less browning at the tips. I'm not sure though, whether that variety is recognised by the BLS.

Larger specimens, with terminal branches not strongly orientated, may be confused with Cladonia portentosa, but can be distinguished by having most of the terminal tips divided into two (dichotomous) rather than three (trichotomous). And, looking closer, the joints (axils) are rarely open (perforated) whereas in Cladonia portentosa you can often clearly see a hole. A further species, Cladonia arbuscula, may also need to be considered, but that has branches that strongly curve to one side.

Cladonia ciliata is not as widely distributed across the UK as Cladonia portentosa. Here, in the south, it is primarily found on heathland and on west country moors, and some dunes. In Wales and further north, it mainly grows on upland moors, similarly in Scotland where it is also a montane species.

Cladonia ciliata, var.ciliata is now featured here as a separate species on the following page.