Cladonia subulata

Podetia 2–6 cm tall, dull to bright grey-green, sometimes tinged brownish grey, thin, with pointed apices, sometimes with a furrow at the side of the podetium, often irregularly branched or furcate towards the apices and appearing antler-like, occasionally with irregular cups which often proliferate from the margins, usually entirely farinose-sorediate throughout, but sometimes ± corticate at the base which may be ± squamulose. Basal squamules inconspicuous or absent, elongate and deeply incised. Apothecia brown, rare, at the apices of podetia. Thallus C–, K–, KC–, Pd+ red, UV– (fumarprotocetraric acid).

Cladonia glauca is more glaucous-grey, contains squamatic acid (Pd–, UV+ white) or thamnolic acid (K+ yellow) and more frequently has a thin narrow ± extended furrow at the side of the podetium. C. rei has less branched, often contorted podetia, often with deformed cups, which rarely proliferate and contain homosekikaic acid (UV± white). Podetia with non-poliferating cups could be mistaken for C. fimbriata, but these will normally be accompanied with pointed podetia without cups.