Cladonia stellaris

Taxon

Cladonia stellaris

Authority
(Opiz) Pouzar & Vězda (1971)
Synonyms
Cladonia alpestris
BLS Number
418
Comments
doubtfully British
Taxon Photo
General Description

The 19th century records for this species are doubtful. This striking Reindeermoss is similar to Cladonia portentosa, with bight with UV florescence but is has a more yellowish tinge, with very dense rounded heads, with no distinct main axis within. The apical branches mainly branch into fours and fives. Cladonia portentosa is has a more greenish-grey tinge, does not form dense rounded heads and has distinct centra axis. The apical branches mainly branch into threes.

Morphs of Cladonia portentosa with rounded heads can be found rarely, but these do not have the other characters described above.

Distribution Map
Key to map date classes
References

Ahti, T. & Stenros, S. (2013) Cladonia.  In:  Nordic Lichen Flora, Volume 5 Cladoniaceae (ed. T. Ahti, S. Stenros & R. Moberg) 8-86.  Uppsala:  University of Uppsala.

Text by Neil A Sanderson, with data from Ahti & Stenros (2013)