Cladoniaceae on Macrolichens of Alaska

Cladonia alinii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia alinii #

Taxon #

Cladonia alinii

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Cladonia alinii is a rare or at least overlooked Cladonia species. It is esorediate, squamulose, and with pointed podetia, some simple, some branched or with irregular or aborted cups. Where cups or weak cups are present there are proliferations from the margins of the scyphi. The podetia, which are not perfectly erect, are grayish brown but are green towards to basal portions. The cortex is noticeably thick and smooth; C. alinii does not form isidia or soredia (CLH). C. singularis is similar but has more slender and elongated podetia which do not form cups.

Cladonia alpina

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia alpina #

Taxon #

Cladonia alpina

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

A bright yellow lichen, Cladonia alpina is similar in appearance to C. bacilliformis and C. macilenta. C. alpina, however, is more branched at the apices and usually has conspicuous patches rather than a continuous coating of soredia.

Substrate #

Soil or less commonly wood (BLC)

Chemical Tests #

C-, K-, KC-, Pd- or Pd+yellow (BLC)

Cladonia amaurocraea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia amaurocraea #

Taxon #

Cladonia amaurocraea

Organization #

Clade Amaurocraeae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

A very confusing species at first which once learned is readily identified in the field. The main confusion with this species stems from the many forms and intergrades between them which also share some traits with other species. The podetia may be with cups, erratically tendrilous, neatly bifurcated, or coming to a single point. Many specimens may have a combination of these on one thallus or neighboring thalli of different forms may appear strikingly different. The best way to recognize this highly morphologically plastic species is the lack of basal squamules and the greenish to golden brown color of the podetia which have conspicuously browned tips. We include a photo here of a specimen with sparse basal squamules on wood, but these are usually absent or obscured when growing on more typical substrate of soil and among bryophytes and heaths. Forms without cups are easily confused for cupless specimens of C. gracilis. That species is not the same off white to light yellow color as C. amaurocrea.

Cladonia arbuscula

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia arbuscula #

Taxon #

Cladonia arbuscula

Organization #

Clade Arbuscula (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Often yellow and very pale especially when desiccated. Very similar to C. mitis in appearance. C. arbuscula has tips of the branches which are more obviously brown and at maturity appear combed to one side (Brodo et al. 2001) not unlike C. rangiferina but which otherwise looks quite different proportionally as C. arbuscula lacks the long main axil seen in C. rangiferina. C. stellaris is not so yellow and has small starburst-shaped branching at the tips.

Cladonia bacilliformis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia bacilliformis #

Taxon #

Cladonia bacilliformis

Organization #

Clade Ochroleucae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

The combination of soredia, bright yellow color from the usnic acid content, and the strict adherence to wood make this Cladonia recognizable in the field. Some sources describe the apothecia as infrequent but in Alaska fertile specimens appear to be extremely rare. Of the horn-like species of Cladonia without terminal branching, this species is the most yellow.

Cladonia bellidiflora

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia bellidiflora #

Taxon #

Cladonia bellidiflora

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

A bright yellow-green Cladonia which is usually fertile with bright red apothecia. Typically lacing cups but sometimes cupped. Slender podetia which are abundantly adorned with squamules but lacking in soredia or isidia (Brodo et al. 2001). Very similar to C. transcendens in morphology and substrates but C. transcendens is a sorediate species.

Cladonia borealis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia borealis #

Taxon #

Cladonia borealis

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

This Cladonia is another red-fruited species which greenish cups. There are some features which may allow C. borealis to be reliably identified in the field. The soredia of this species are often on the finer end of the spectrum, although still with some variability which allows for some with somewhat granular soredia. Perhaps the best feature to use are the more exaggerated, deeper-bellied goblet shape of the cups when compared to other similar species (Brodo et al. 2001).

Cladonia botrytes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia botrytes #

Taxon #

Cladonia botrytes

Organization #

Clade Ochroleucae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

A distinctive Cladonia with its light colored apothecia upon podetia which lack cups. The characteristic apothecia are light tan when dry and nearly white when well-hydrated.

Substrate #

Almost always on wood but rarely may be directly on soil (Brodo et al. 2001)

Chemical Tests #

Pd-, K-, KC+ (Brodo et al. 2001)

Cladonia cariosa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia cariosa #

Taxon #

Cladonia cariosa

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Helopodium (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Abundant reddish to very dark brown apothecia when dry. Deceptive when hydrated, lightening and swelling significantly. The splits in the podetia which are found to their bases are another helpful feature. Grayish green, nearly white if desiccated, sometimes with cyan coloration in shade or when wet. Deceptively lacking in soredia; the areolate cortex can sometimes appear granular.

Cladonia carneola

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia carneola #

Taxon #

Cladonia carneola

Organization #

Clade Ochroleucae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Known as the crowned pixie cup (Brodo et al. 2001), this species gets its name from the crown-like appearamce the cup rims or proliferating podetia or pycnidia take. The cups can proliferate from the center or the rim of the tier before, usually more often the rim. It is a sorediate species that produces apothecia which can also help ID this lichen as they are a much lighter tan color than the fertile forms of most other sorediate, cup forming species with brown pycnidia and apothecia. It looks very much like a member of the C. chlorophea complex in infertile specimens.

Cladonia cenotea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia cenotea #

Taxon #

Cladonia cenotea

Organization #

Clade Perviae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Among the few sorediate species of Cladonia which have open axils revealing a hollowed structure of the podetia. Podetia growing from an often-dense bed of primary squamules which usually disappear up the podetia. The brown apothecia are rare not frequently seen (photos of fertile form included here) and the edges of the cups are inrolled. A forest species (Brodo et al. 2001).

Cladonia ciliata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia ciliata #

Taxon #

Cladonia ciliata f. ciliata, Cladonia ciliata f. flavicans

Organization #

Clade Crustaceae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

The main difference between the two varieties is the absence (var. ciliata) or presence of (var. flavicans) usnic acid. Usnic acid influences the color of the thalli, leaving var. flavicans with a more greenish or yellowish color when compared to the more white, gray, or drab brown of the nominate variety (BLS). The slender, gracile, and elongated branch tips are another feature to recognize this species by. Cladonia ciliata is probably under observed in Alaska and could be confused with any of the “Cladina”-group Cladonia species or similarly abundantly branched species such as C. wainioi.

Cladonia coniocraea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia coniocraea #

Taxon #

Cladonia coniocrae

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Most similar to C. ochrochlora which are of the same clade and subclade (Stenroos et al. 2018). A Cladonia with sorediate and decorticated areas. Without cups or rarely very small cups at the tips. C. coniocae produces cups less commonly than C. ochrochlora. When present, apothecia at the tips of the podetia are brown in color. The soralia of C. coniocrae are more discrete and more continuous in C. coniocrae (CLH).

Cladonia cornuta

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia cornuta #

Taxon #

Cladonia cornuta ssp. cornuta, Cladonia cornuta spp. groenlandica

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al.)

Identification #

A pixie lichen with two subspecies. In the nominate subspecies, cups are absent and the podetia form points. In C. cornuta ssp. groenlandica, small cups are formed at the tips of the podetia. This species is sorediate in the upper portions of the podetia and esorediate below. The similar C. ochrochlora has conspicuously decorticated areas and more discrete soralia (Brodo et al. 2001). Most other horn-like or pointed Cladonia species with soredia are much more granular; species like C. coniocrea and C. veruculosa. The nominate subspecies of C. cornuta may be mistaken for C. ecmocyna ssp. ecmocyna, with the grayish and finely sorediate upper portion of C. cornuta vaguely mimicking a pruina. The K+ yellow reaction of C. ecmocyna helps to separate it from this species.

Cladonia crispata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia crispata #

Taxon #

Cladonia crispata var. cetrariiformis, Cladonia crispata var. crispata

Organization #

Clade Perviae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

An esorediate Cladonia which terminate in open axils which allow an observer to peer down into the podetia. The variety C. crispata var. cetrariiformis looks very similar to some forms of C. multiformis which lack cups. The Pd result for C. multiformis should be redder than in C. crispata. When present, the cups of C. multiformis are perforated but do not have wide open axils as in C. crispata.

Cladonia cyanipes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia cyanipes #

Taxon #

Cladonia cyanipes

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

Very similar to Cladonia subulata or to a lesser extent C. alpina. C. cyanipes does not blacken at the base of the podetia but rather has a cyan or light bluish-green color. The rest of the podetia may be light bluish-green or nearly white. The tips of the podetia may be blunted or branched but the lichen does not become so yellow as C. alpina with abundant usnic acid. C. subulata produces cups with fingerlike proliferations along their rims. The soredia of C. cyanipes can be farinose to granular. C. subulata and C. alpina are less commonly found on wood than C. cyanipes, more often being terricolous directly on soil (CLH). C. farinacea is somehwat similar in appearance but can be separated by the perforations of the podetia which are absent in C. cyanipes.

Cladonia deformis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia deformis #

Taxon #

Cladonia deformis

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

One of the two “sulphur cup” Cladonia species together with C. sulphurina. C. deformis has more slender, less erratic podetia which more often form typical cups. C. sulphurina has podetia and cups which are often more peforated, erratic, or aborted than those of C. deformis. The soredia of this species are farinose and it produces red apothecia when fertile.

Cladonia digitata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia digitata #

Taxon #

Cladonia digitata

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al 2018)

Identification #

Large sorediate squamules (CLH). Cupped, red-fruited. Cup rims appearing dentate to digitate. Podetia covered in fine soredia.

Chemical Tests #

Medulla Pd+ orange, K+ yellow, KC-, C- (Brodo et al. 2001)

Substrate #

Wood, soil, or among bryophytes

Notes #

Probably ubiquitous but underreported, lacking in records from the Aleutian Islands (CLH).

Cladonia dimorpha

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia dimorpha #

Taxon #

Cladonia dimorpha

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Ascyphiferae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

This species resembles the much more common C. cariosa. In that species, however, there are fissures of the podetia which are found extending to their bases. These fissures are absent in C. dimorpha although it still may have small perforations. C. dimorpha attaches to substrate via a much slenderer base of the podetia and the apothecia (when present) are abundant as in C. cariosa but are smaller at maturity. In Alaska at least, C. cariosa appears much less conspicuously stipitate than C. dimorpha although more specimens of each need to be examined to find if this trend holds.

Cladonia ecmocyna

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia ecmocyna #

Taxa #

Cladonia ecmocyna ssp. ecmocyna, Cladonia ecmocyna ssp. intermedia, Cladonia ecmocyna ssp. occidentalis

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles

Identification #

Another Cladonia with several subspecies and forms, some which intergrade. The nominate subspecies typically has a conspicuous pruina over simple podetia, giving a frosted appearance. The subspecies C. ecmocyna ssp. intermedia and C. ecmocyna ssp. occidentalis can produce cups. The cups are usually well-formed in C. ecmocyna ssp. intermedia, and typically absent or weakly formed to aborted in C. ecmocyna ssp. occidentalis. C. ecmocyna ssp. intermedia looks very much like C. gracilis ssp. turbinata but is a more gray-green rather than yellow to olive green color and does not so readily produce apothecia.

Cladonia farinacea

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia farinacea #

Taxon #

Cladonia farinacea

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Ascyphiferae

Identification #

An elongated Cladonia species with perforations like those of C. gracilis ssp. vulnerata. The perforations help to separate from C. cyanipes. C. farinacea is readily separated from C. gracilis ssp. vulnerata by the soredia.

Substrate #

Terricolous, bryocolous

Notes #

Data deficient, few records from Alaska (Spribille et al. 2023). Widespread but underreported.

Cladonia fimbriata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia fimbriata #

Taxon #

Cladonia fimbriata

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

The combination of more elongated, trumpet shaped podetia with farinose soredia, sorediate primary squamules, and subglobose cups are often enough to recognize this species in situ. It rarely produces apothecia which are brown when present.

Substrate #

Most often terricolous or lignicolous, also commonly bryocolous or corticolous on the trunks of trees.

Cladonia furcata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia furcata #

Taxon #

Cladonia furcata

Identification #

A branched Cladonia which does not have soredia but a smooth or areolate cortex. Specimens with abundant squamules can appear to have a roughened surface. Other specimens lack squamules entirely. The similar C. scabriuscula has soredia at the tips of its podetia. The axils are not so consistently opened at the ends of the podetia as in C. crispata.

Cladonia gracilis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia gracilis #

Taxon #

Cladonia gracilis cf. ssp. gracilis, Cladonia gracilis ssp. elongata, Cladonia gracilis ssp. turbinata, Cladonia ssp. vulnerata

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

A species with many subspecies and forms. The nominate subspecies is not accepted for Alaska although there remain unresolved specimens which are of unclear identity which resemble C. gracilis ssp. gracilis (Spribille et al. 2023). C. elongata, as the epithet suggests, is the more elongated, and gracile of subspecies. C. gracilis spp. turbinata produces well-formed cups which are nearly always fertile with brown, convex apothecia along the cup rims. C. gracilis ssp. vulnerata has perforations along the podetia which resemble wounds from a blade. The more robust C. maxima can also have these perforations but usually at least some podetia are tipped with weak cups in that species. C. farinacea also has these perforations but that species is conspicuously covered in soredia. The thalli of all subspecies are lacking in soredia. The species and subspecies are ubiquitous in Alaska.

Cladonia granulans

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia granulans #

Taxon #

Cladonia granulans

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

One of the red-fruited Cladonia species. C. granulans can be separated from many of the others with red apothecia by the very weakly formed cups. C. transcendens is similar, with weakly formed cups and red apothecia, but has farinose soredia rather than rugose subglobose verruculae (CLH).

Cladonia islandica

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia islandica #

Taxon #

Cladonia islandica

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Cladonia (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

A rare and little understood Cladonia, especially in Alaska, which was recently described of Iceland (Kristinsson & Ahti 2009). Recognized best by shiny olive to brown, esorediate, branched podetia. C. decorticata is probably confusbale with this species being similarly esorediate but with abundant microsquamules. C. islandica, however, is described as having long, divaricate branchlets which are present in the pictured material.

Cladonia kanewskii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia kanewskii #

Taxon #

Cladonia kanewskii

Organization #

Clade Borya (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Very similar to C. uncialis with the browned and pointed tips of the off-white to mottled light green podetia. C. kanewskii is much more erratic morphologically, however. Apothecia not yet known for this species. C. kanewskii has a more ragged appearance than the other similar species including C. nipponica, and C. thomsonii.

Cladonia luteoalba

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia luteoalba #

Taxon #

Cladonia luteoalba

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (as C. coccifera Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

This mysterious lichen has been shown to be a form of C. straminea (Černajová al. 2022, Spribille et al. 2023). Why this form diverges so much from the typical C. straminea is has not been fully elucidated. We include this form in this guide as it is conspicuous in the field, and we encourage more records and collections. This form has unusually large, bright yellow primary squamules which are abundantly sorediate and is without podetia. The squamules become so curled and upturned that the ventral surface often engulfs the dorsal surface.

Cladonia macilenta

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Cladonia macrophyllodes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia macrophyllodes #

Taxon #

Cladonia macrophyllodes

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Cladonia (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

The generally grayish color in combination with the abundant, large squamules and cups that are rather erratic except for the very youngest of the proliferations which appear more typical. Lower tiers of cups generally flatten out into a planar and flat-topped appearance. The work by Stenroos et al. showed that this species is closely related to C. uliginosa, another esorediate species which shares the slatey gray-blue color of C. macrophyllodes and is also abundantly squmulose, is more verticillate than C. macrophyllodes. When apothecia re produced they are brown (CLH).

Cladonia maxima

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia maxima #

Taxon #

Cladonia maxima

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles

Identification #

The tallest Cladonia species in Alaska when mature. Very similar to C. cornuta and slender forms of C gracilis. C. cornuta is separated by having soredia. Neither C. gracilis nor C. cornuta become so robust although they may become similarly tall. C. maxima more often produces erratic or weakly formed cups at the tips of the podetia. When C. gracilis forms cups they are usually quite uniform in proportions. C. cornuta ssp. groenlandica will produce small cups at the tips of the podetia but it will not grow as tall and will have the aforementioned soredia.

Cladonia mitis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia mitis #

Taxon #

Cladonia mitis

Organization #

Clade Arbuscula (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Very closely related to C. arbuscula which shares most aspects of their morphologies. C. arbuscula may have tips which are more noticeably browned, and which are more consistently combed to one side.

Substrate #

On the ground directly on soil or amongst bryophytes and other plant material.

Cladonia nipponica

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia nipponica #

Taxon #

Cladonia nipponica

Organization #

Clade Borya (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Similar morphologically to C. uncialis and C. kanewskii. There is more than one variety or form. One appears almost like an inflated C. uncialis or Flavocetraria species, another like a more worm-like C. uncialis. Lacking the flatter appearance often seen in specimens of C. kanewskii.

Substrate #

Terricolous (CLH), among heaths and mosses

Cladonia norvegica

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia norvegica #

Taxon #

Cladonia norvegica

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

This species is very slender and is tipped in much lighter colored apothecia than in most other brown-fruited Cladonia species. Unfortunately, the apothecia seem uncommon. Other light-tan-fruited species can include C. botryrtes and C. carneola. C. norvrgica is much more slender and often erratic and contorted, weakly erect.

Substrate #

Lignicolous

Cladonia phyllophora

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia phyllophora #

Taxon #

Cladonia phyllophora

Identification #

Given the common name of the felt horn Cladonia (Brodo et al. 2001?), this species is pleasantly soft to the touch along the podetia without having a layer of soredia to rub off. Most forms are rather erratic but still with some weakly-formed cups. This is another species with brown apothecia when present. Most forms abundantly squamulose. Bases of the often but not always mottled. Usually in shaded situations, more common in the forests than open tundra and coastal areas. Found usually within eyeshot of large freshwater bodies such as large lakes and rivers.

Cladonia pleurota & Similar

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia pleurota & Similar #

Taxa #

Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia pleurota, Cladonia straminea

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

These related species are all very similar both morphologically and chemically; it is not difficult to confuse them in the field. All three species are red-fruited, producing bright scarlet apothecia. Cladonia straminea can often be separated by the squamulose cups. The other species may have squamules on the cups but not usually occuring all the way to the rim of the cup as is common in C. straminea. C. pleurota and C. coccifera are especially difficult to separate. C. coccifera transitions from flattened areoles on the stalks of the podetia to bullate granules inside the cup. C. pleuorta has granules which are consistent over the entirety of the podetia. C. umbticola may also be confused for any of these species but has at least some pycnidia which are brownish or blackened and with cups which are often not so well developed.

Cladonia pocillum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia pocillum #

Taxon #

Cladonia pocillum

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graciles (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Very similar in appearance to C. pyxidata, having the pebble-like areoles on and in the cups. C. pocillum, however produces a primary thallus of squamules which form rosettes. Lacking true soredia despite some of the pebbles appearing granular.

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+yellow becoming brown, C-, KC-, P+ red, UV- (CLH)

Cladonia portentosa ssp. pacifica

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia portentosa ssp. pacifica #

Taxa #

Cladonia portentosa ssp. pacifica f. decolorans, Cladonia portentosa ssp. pacifica f. pacifica

Organization #

Clade Impexae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Cladonia portentosa ssp. pacifica is the only subspecies of C. portentosa found in Alaska. It branches from main axils and is very similar in appearance to C. rangiferina and C. ciliata. Those species have a more unidirectionally-combed appearance to the branch tips. In C. portentosa ssp. pacifica, the branch tips project in all directions and are not so conspicuously browned. The form f. decolorans in completely white, not at all greenish, yellowish, or brown.

Cladonia pseudalcicornis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia pseudalcicornis #

Taxon #

Cladonia pseudalcicornis

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

This lichen is found closely associated with habitat where the soil may be seasonally saturated or submerged; very small rivulets, creeklets, and the smallest of snowmelt runoff channels. We have found some specimens growing submerged in alpine ponds. It might be confused for C. macrophyllodes or C. symphycarpia which also have large squamules and are usually wanting in podetia and apothecia. Photos of the rare, cupped form included. Often in the alpine but sometimes below the tree line, especially in coastal areas.

Cladonia pyxidata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Cladonia rangiferina

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia rangiferina #

Taxon #

Cladonia rangiferina

Organization #

Clade Crustaceae (Stenroos et al 2018)

Identification #

Previously of the “Cladina”, this species can be separated from some of the other heavily branched Cladonia species by having a long main axil from which the smaller branches develop. The tips of the branches appear combed over together in the same direction. It is more gray than green except when very well shaded and/or hydrated. Cladonia portentosa is similar but has branch tips which are not “combed” over together. Some deceptive specimens of C. stygia may only be blackened on the interior towards the very base of the thallus, in these specimens there are often perforations nearer to the branch tips which are typically absent in C. rangiferina.

Cladonia rei

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia rei #

Taxon #

Cladonia rei

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Graclies (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Long, slender, sorediate podetia which are tipped in small cups, aborted cups, or pointed and lacking cups. Apothecia brown and commonly produced. C. macilenta has red fruit although being similarly slender.

Substrate #

Terricolous, lignicolous (Brodo et al. 2001)

Chemical Tests #

podetia: K- or K+ brownish, C-, KC-, Pd- or Pd+ red (Brodo et al. 2001)

Cladonia scabriuscula

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia scabriuscula #

Taxon #

Cladonia scabriuscula

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Ascyphiferae

Identification #

This Cladonia species is usually abundantly branched and can appear similar to C. furcata. C. scabriuscula, however, is sorediate while C. furcata is esorediate (Brodo et al. 2001). C. scabriuscula can have specimens with or without abundant squamules. Those which are abundantly squamulose might be mistaken for C. squamosa, but that species also lacks soredia.

Cladonia scotteri

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia scotteri #

Taxon #

Cladonia scotteri

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

This species can be recognized by its very small podetia which stil bear apothecia and in part by the distinct habitat along lake shores. Together the tiny podetia appear like stubble on the primary thallus of squamules. The squamules themselves appear almost granular to bullate, being much less well developed and conspicuously divided than in many other species of Cladonia.

Cladonia singularis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia singularis #

Taxon #

Cladonia singularis

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

A long, slender, cupless Cladonia. Podetia with small squamules which are not deeply divided, and which are less dense than in species like C. squamulosa. Similar also to C. trassii but that species has podetia with conspicuously blackened bases and has much larger podetial squamlues.

Substrate #

Terricolous, among talus (Spribille et al. 2023)

Cladonia squamosa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia squamosa #

Taxon #

Cladonia squamulosa

Organization #

Clade Perviae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Known as the dragon’s horn, this species has densely squamulose podetia but lacks soredia. It is ubiquitous in Alaska to the north slope of the Brooks Range. Similar looking but more slender taxa include squamulose specimens of C. gracilis ssp. elongata, C. singularis. Producing brown apothecia commonly.

Cladonia stellaris

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia stellaris #

Taxan #

Cladonia stellaris var. aberrans, Cladonia stellaris var. stellaris

Organization #

Clade Impexae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Shrub-like growth form which become very rounded. This species lacks a single main stem which immediately helps to separate if from species like C. rangiferina, C. portentosa, and C. stygia (Brodo et al. 2001). An abundantly branched Cladonia recognized by the tips of the branches which appear like small stars, from which it gets its epithet. Thalli whiteish, grayish, yellow-green, or light green.

Cladonia stygia

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia stygia #

Taxon #

Cladonia stygia

Organization #

Clade Crustaceae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Much branched Cladonia of the former “Cladina” genus (Nyl.) Nyl. This species is best recognized by the blackened bases. Some specimens are deceptive and may only be blackened on the inside of the openings in the medulla of the lowest branches. The branches are often perforated close to their tips.

Cladonia subfurcata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia subfurcata #

Taxon #

Cladonia subfurcata

Organization #

Clade Perviae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Olive to dark brown podetia with melanotic bases. Branching and hollow and with some perforations. Dark brown apothecia rare. Arctic-alpine and boreal-montane (ITALIC).

Substrate #

Terricolous, among heaths

Chemical Tests #

K-, C-, KC-, Pd-, UV+ “bright bluish white” (CLH)

Notes #

Ubiquitous throughout Alaska.

Cladonia subulata

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia subulata #

Taxon #

Cladonia subulata

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Cladonia (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Known as the antlered powderhorn (Brodo et al. 2001) this sorediate Cladonia has weak cups which produce long proliferations along their margins, appearing palmate like the antlers of a bull caribou.

Substrate #

Terricolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellowish to brownish, C-, KC-, Pd+ red, UV- (CLH)

Cladonia sulphurina

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia sulphurina #

Taxon #

Cladonia sulphurina

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

Farinose-sorediate, rarely producing red apothecia. Sulphur-yellow in sunny sites, light green in the shade. Similar to C. deformis but less slender, more erratic (counterintuitive to the epithets), more perforated podetia; with an almost deflating appearance. The UV fluorescence can easily separate the two if field ID is difficult.

Substrate #

Terricolous, on humus, lignicolous (Brodo et al. 2001)

Cladonia symphycarpa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia symphycarpa #

Taxon #

Cladonia symphycarpa

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Helopodium

Identification #

Confusable with C. pseudalcicornis or C. macrophyllodes. This species rarely produces podetia but when present they bear conspicuous longitudinal grooves and do not form complete cups. The squamules are bright white below and usually curling upward becoming easy to spot. The dorsal side of the squamules is a light gray-green (CLH). Squamules are broader and cups common in C. macrophyllodes, C. pseudalcicornis has squamules which are not so upturned or erect and is more strictly associated with wet habitats nearer to if not seasonally submerged in water, C. symphycarpa can occur in drier habitats.

Cladonia thomsonii

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia thomsonii #

Taxon #

Cladonia thomsonii

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Rangiformes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Morphologically somewhat intermediate between Cladonia uncialis and C. arbuscula. It is less intricately branched than C. arbuscula nor does it have the conspicuously combed branch tips. The tips are more erratic than in most specimens of C. uncialis and has more perforated or split main axils. This species grows in more gravelly, less vegetated areas than are often tolerated by lookalikes.

Cladonia turgida

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia turgida #

Taxon #

Cladonia turgida

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Rangiformes (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

One of the few esorediate species with perforated cups, similar to Cladonia multiformis. The perforated cups of that species, when present, are on taller podetia than the slightly lower-growing habit of C. turgida. The species lacks soredia and shares some similarities also with C. uncialis, C. kanewskii, and C. nipponica. C. turgida is a darker green color than those species and produces cups. Phylogeny work by Stenroos et al. in 2018 placed this species closest to C. thomsonii which is morphologically dissimilar.

Cladonia uliginosa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia uliginosa #

Taxon #

Cladonia uliginosa

Organization #

Clade Cladonia, Subclade Cladonia (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Cladonia uliginosa is somewhat similar morphologically and related to the much more common C. macrophyllodes (Pino-Bodas et al. 2024). It has a similar slatey blue color when dry but is a taller, verticillate, and more squamulose species.

Substrate #

terricolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Cladonia umbricola

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia umbricola #

Taxon #

Cladonia umbricola

Organization #

Clade Erythrocarpae, Subclade Subglaucescentes

Identification #

A tricky species that can have somewhat brownish to blackish pycnidia contrasting bright red apothecia. Podetia with farinose to granular soredia. With or without weak, bulbous cups at the tips. The basal squamules are also sorediate in this species.

Substrate #

lignicolous (Brodo et al. 2001)

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellow, “KC+ gold to KC-”, Pd- or Pd+ orange, UV- or UV+ “blue-white” (Brodo et al. 2001)

Cladonia uncialis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia uncialis #

Taxa #

Cladonia uncialis ssp. biuncialus, Cladonia uncialis ssp. uncialis

Organization #

Clade Unciales (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

This lichen has a thorny or spikey appearance and a white to bright yellow thallus depending on factors such as exposure to sun, the concentration of some compounds such as usnic acid, and how hydrated or desiccated they are. The thallus may for dense cushions or a more loosely attached thallus in others. Sometimes appearing mottled. The nominate subspecies is ubiquitous in Alaska. The subspecies C. uncialis ssp. biuncialis is more strictly bifurcated at the terminal ends of the podetia and more often forms dense and sometimes very large thalli. The bifurcated tips are also much longer and more conspicuously brown than in the nominate subspecies.

Cladonia verruculosa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia verruculosa #

Taxon #

Cladonia verruculosa

Organization #

Cladonia spp.

Identification #

A granular sorediate Cladonia with long slender podetia that may or may not end in poorly formed cups. Probably most similar to C. subulata although C. verruculosa differs from that species by having cups, when present, which do not so consistently produce marginal proliferations, lacking the “antlered” appearance of C. subulata. Produces brown apothecia.

Cladonia wainioi

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cladonia wainioi #

Taxon #

Cladonia wainioi

Organization #

Clade Wainioa (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

It resembles the now subsumed “Cladina” species being abundantly branched at the apices and forming similar shrub-like grows. It is most likely to be confused for C. stellaris or C. uncialis. The tips of the branches in C. wainioi are more extensively browned. It lacks a main axil like C. rangiferina, C. portentosa, C. stygia, etc.

Pycnothelia papillaria

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pycnothelia papillaria #

Taxon #

Pycnothelia papillaria

Organization #

Cladoniaceae

Identification #

A greenish, grayish, or whitish lichen with a granular primary thallus from which inflated podetia with smooth, esorediate, papillose ends and constricted bases emerge. This thallus of granules, rather than squamules, separates it from the genus Cladonia The apothecia are small and brown, clustered in a way not seen in other short-stalked genera like Dibaeis (Brodo et al. 2001). Similarly smooth fruticose, esorediate genera such as Allocetraria and Dactylina do not have granular primary thalli.