Description: This upland, terricolous species has prominent, red, terminal discs born on podetia (stalks) hung with numerous peeling squamules (scales). The podetia can be small and stumpy or longer to 4cm tall. It occurs in hilly areas on peaty soil and decaying tree stumps and amongst boulders and scree. It is rather uncommon throughout Ireland where there is suitable habitat.

Key Identification Features:

• The peeling squamules on the podetia (the basal ones having an orange-brown lower surface) differentiate this species
• A lookalike Cladonia squamosa also with peeling squamules has brown discs.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

Distribution Map from NBN: Cladonia bellidiflora at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Cladonia bellidiflora at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.