Bengal Match Lichen

Description:

The podetia in this species are very distinctive and tall. They have been recorded as high as 60 mm although the norm is in the range 10 mm to 30 mm high, with a diameter of 1.5 mm. Podetia may be branched at the tips; branching is more frequent at the base near the small primary squamules (8mm long). Coarse squamules cover podetia. Apothecia form on the rim of the tip of the podetia; these are common and are light to dark brown in colour. Red pycnidia also form on the tips of the podetia.

Habitat:

K positive yellow and UV positive blue. Primary squamules are green on the upper surface and white with a hint of orange on the underside. It is easy to confuse with Cladonia crispata; Cladonia floerkeana has larger squamules. Nature Notes: Found growing on rotting logs or well drained soil with a high humus content, fence posts and open heathland ( http://www.lichens.ie/lichen-description... ), ( http://www.soortenbank.nl/soorten.php?so... )------- -----Cladonia (cup lichen) is a genus of moss-like lichens in the family Cladoniaceae. They are the primary food source for reindeer and caribou. Cladonia species are of economic importance to reindeer-herders, such as the Sami in Scandinavia or the Nenets in Russia. Antibiotic compounds are extracted from some species to create antibiotic cream. The light green species Cladonia stellaris is used in flower decorations. ----Although the phylogeny of the genus Cladonia is still under investigation, two main morphological groups are commonly differentiated by taxonomists: the Cladonia morpho-type and the Cladina morpho-type. The Cladonia morpho-type has many more species, and is generally described as a group of squamulose (grow from squamules), cup-bearing lichens. The Cladina morpho-types are often referred to as forage lichens, mat-forming lichens, or reindeer lichens (due to their importance as caribou winter forage). ----Cladonia perforata ("perforate cladonia") is one of two on the U.S. Endangered Species List, and it should never be collected. It exists only in a few small populations in Florida. ----Several Cladonia species grow on sand dunes. The presence, and luxuriant carpet-like growth, of Cladonia species is one of the defining characters of grey dune, a priority habitat for conservation under the E.U. Habitats Directive. ----Cladonia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes continuella (wikipedia)

Notes:

===TAXONOMY==== -Kingdom:Fungi--- -Division:Ascomycota--- -Class:Lecanoromycetes--- -Order:Lecanorales--- -Family:Cladoniaceae--- -Genus:Cladonia--- ( http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-ch... )