On heather moorland in Longshaw last week. From a distance it looks like C. portentosa, but I think the "giraffe" spots of green on white are a good ID feature.
Steve
Cladonia rangiformis
Cladonia rangiformis
- Attachments
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- Field photo
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- Stereo microscope, light from above
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- Stereo microscope, light from below, showing "giraffe" patterning
Re: Cladonia rangiformis
Found at Longshaw on moorland sheep pasture, March 2016.
Colour: brownish-grey when dry, green-flecked (giraffe-like) when wet.
Soredia: none.
Podetia texture: few scales, otherwise smooth.
Podetia branching: more than 2 – up to 4, irregular.
Cups: none.
Basal squamules: hardly in evidence.
Apothecia/pycnidia: small, brown.
Split in podetia: not present
Holes in axils: present
At first sight the brown-grey coloration and the holed axils of the dry specimen made me consider Cladonia furcata, but the more-than-dichotomous branching, and the definite “giraffe” patterning of algal patches on the white podetia point to Caldonia rangiformis.
“Holes in axils” seems to be yet another variable feature.
Steve
Colour: brownish-grey when dry, green-flecked (giraffe-like) when wet.
Soredia: none.
Podetia texture: few scales, otherwise smooth.
Podetia branching: more than 2 – up to 4, irregular.
Cups: none.
Basal squamules: hardly in evidence.
Apothecia/pycnidia: small, brown.
Split in podetia: not present
Holes in axils: present
At first sight the brown-grey coloration and the holed axils of the dry specimen made me consider Cladonia furcata, but the more-than-dichotomous branching, and the definite “giraffe” patterning of algal patches on the white podetia point to Caldonia rangiformis.
“Holes in axils” seems to be yet another variable feature.
Steve
- Stacked image