A recent segregate from Cladonia cervicornis (Pino-Bodas et al, 2024) confirmed by sequencing. The species differs from C. cervicornis s. str. in having a less well-developed primary thallus with a white underside, darkening towards the base, and narrower cups that abruptly widen. A specimen from the New Forest was included within the paper describing the species. Little is known about the species yet, but finds of morphologically similar material, suggests it is found in short and open, or disturbed lichen rich heaths and parched acid grasslands on less acidic soils. Likely to be local but widespread.
Generally similar to Cladonia cervicornis. Podetia 4.7–8.7 mm tall, slender, simple, with cups, rarely with squamules at the base, brownish, without a melanotic base; cups regular, with margins entire, very narrow, 1–3 mm wide, abruptly tapering; surface corticate, cortex smooth in the upper part, verrucose in old parts, faintly pruinose towards the cup. Basal squamules persistent, prostrate or ascendent, squamules 3.7–8.11(9.2) mm long × 3.4–5.8 mm wide, apices sometimes incurved, green to greenish brown on the upper side, white on the lower side, darkening towards the base (up to 1/3 of squamule length). Hymenial discs infrequent, dark brown, no well-developed ones observed. Conidiomata at margin of cups, globose, pycnidial slime hyaline. Thallus Pd+ red, K−, UV− (fumarprotocetraric acid).
Well developed material is distinct from Cladonia cervicornis but poorly grown thalli are not going to be easily separated on morphology. The species differs from C. cervicornis s. str. in having a less well-developed primary thallus with a white underside and narrower cups that abruptly widen. Cladonia pulvinata is Pd+ yellow (psoromic acid) while C. verticillata has larger round basal squamules and wider cups.
Little is known about the species yet, but finds of morphologically similar material, suggests it is found in short and open, or disturbed lichen rich heaths and parched acid grasslands on drier and less acidic soils.
Sequenced material has been confirmed from the New Forest (Hampshire), where morphologically similar material is widespread. Also found on dry rocky grassland on a south sloping slope on The Ochil Hills, (West Perthshire). Likely to be local but widespread.
Unkown yet, but the apparent widepread population in the New Forest suggests it is not likley to be seriously threatened. It appears however, dependant on short grazed swards an disturbance and these lichen rich habitats are threatened by declining management of marginal land and tree planting.
Pino-Bodas, R., Herrero, A., Aptroot, A., Søchting. U., McMullin. R. T. & Burgaz, A. R. (2024) Phylogenetic study of the Cladonia cervicornis group (Cladoniaceae, Lecanorales) discloses a new species, Cladonia teuvoana. Lichenologist 56, 237–258. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282924000276
Text by Neil A. Sanderson based on Pino-Bodas et al (2024)