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Cladonia macilenta Hoffm.
Podetia usually small, often about 1cm in height, cylindrical, blunt-tipped, unbranched or, at most, sparsely branched, grey, podetial surface powdery-sorediate, often with a few small squamules below; basal squamules relatively small, incised, grey, becoming grey-green when damp; apothecia red, button-like on the tips of the podetia. Widespread and locally common but easily overlooked on damp stumps and tree-bases, often with C. coniocraea, and on wooden fence-posts.
Young material can be difficult or impossible to separate from young C. polydactyla, but it is generally much smaller, not always so intensely grey, much less variable, and does not develop cups. C. floerkeana is similar but usually larger and with conspicuous apothecia, and may be granular but is not powdery sorediate.
Refs: Smith et al. (2009), 330; Purvis et al. (1992), 198; Dobson (2005), 131 (photo); Fox, Guest & Harmer (2003), plate 3 (photo); Jahns (1983), 214-215 (photo); van Herk & Aptroot (2004), 150-151 (photo, pycnidial stage); Wirth (1995), 1: 298 as ssp. macilenta, 331 (photo, upper illustration only); Puntillo (1996), plate 13 (photo, dry); Lichen Atlas of the British Isles 2: 396 (1996).
On rotted wooden fence-post on bog margin, Gleniffer Braes, Renfrewshire, March 2009
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Uploaded May 2009, last modified June 2010
