Cladonia macilenta #

Taxon #

Cladonia macilenta

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes

Identification #

Known as the “Lipstick Powderhorn”, this species is one which produces bright red apothecia at the tips of slender, farinose-sorediate podetia. Some populations of slender forms of C. transcendens are the most similar although that species usually produces at least a few podetia with weak or aborted cups, has apothecia which are more often clustered, and are overall more erratic morphologically. The rare or overlooked C. granulans might be of similar proportions and with red apothecia but has more sand-like (granular), less farinose soredia.

Substrate #

Most commonly lignicolous, at times corticolous at tree bases, terricolous, and on humus or mosses over rocks.

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellow, C- or C+ yellow, KC- or KC+ yellow, Pd- or Pd+ orange, UV- (CLH)

Notes #

Widespread in Alaska, possibly ubiquitous although under collected in some regions (CLH, Spribille et al. 2023).

Photos #