Cladonia floerkeana (images of British lichens)

Podetia small, typically 1–2 cm in height, grey, usually unbranched, not forming cups, surface densely covered with granules and/or small squamules, lacking soredia or at most, slightly granular-sorediate; basal squamules small and inconspicuous; apothecia bright red, conspicuous, one or more developed at the tips of the podetia and often forming rings. Widespread and locally common on peat-banks and damp, mossy logs and stumps. The "Bengal Match Lichen", or called "Gritty British Soldiers" in N.America.

Not always easy to separate from C. macilenta or variants of C. polydactyla without podetial cups, but these two species are extensively farinose- to granular-sorediate on the podetial surfaces (but note that interpretation of 'granules' and 'soredia' itself varies between authors).

Refs: Smith et al. (2009), 327; Purvis et al. (1992), 198; Dobson (2005), 130 (photo); Dobson (2011), 138 (photo); Britton (2008) 33 (photo); Jahns (1983), 214-215 (photo); Allen (2007), 20 (photo); Whelan (2011), 73 (photo); van Herk & Aptroot (2004), front cover & 140-141 (photo); Wirth (1995), 1: 298, 331 (photo, as C. macilenta subsp. floerkeana); Krog et al. (1994), 156 (photo); Moberg & Holmåson (1984), 138 (photo); Holien & Tønsberg (2008), front cover & 86 (photos); Hansen & Andersen (1995), 29 (photo); Thomson (1967) 70, plate 3, figs. 14a&b (photos); Brodo et al. (2001), 254-5 (photo); Lichen Atlas of the British Isles 2: 386 (1996).

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Images of British Lichens