Cladonia pyxidata #

Taxon #

Cladonia pyxidata

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles

Identification #

One of many cupped, sorediate, Cladonias with brown apothecia. Can be distinguished in the field by the pebble-like areoles which can be found on the inside of the upper surface of the cups. C. pocillum has similar pebble-like granules but has more conspicuous rosettes for a primary thallus. C. pyxidata can have a bed of primary squamules which can loosely take the shape of rosettes but the thallus is usually more foliose and appressed in C. pocillum. Specimens of C. pocillum growing from cracks and crags or from between rocks and boulders may not have room for their rosette to fully form and can be mistaken for C. pyxidata. These specimens can usually be worked out by paying close attention to the margin of the primary thallus which forms a more contiguous border in C. pocillum and a looser collection of squamules in C. pyxidata.

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellowish becoming brown, C-,KC-, Pd+ red, UV- (CLH)

Substrate #

Terricolous, humus, rare on wood (CLH)

Notes #

One of the most common Cladonia species in Alaska. Common in a variety of habitats; forests or tundras.