Description: Now believed to be extinct in Ireland, C. cornuta appears to be an elusive species. Generally, it is easy to identify and can be learned quickly by beginners. It is a stalked, brown-green species, the stalks drawn into a point and usually without cups, rather like the common tree stump lichen, C. coniocraea. However, the stalks (podetia) are half sorediate (in the upper part) and half corticate (in the lower part), a feature easily seen with the naked eye. C. cornuta grows on peat and rotting wood in upland moorland areas. Old records emanate from Counties Wicklow, Cork and Antrim. It would be exciting to rediscover its whereabouts.

Key Identification Features:

• The brown-green, pointed stalks, half-sorediate, half-corticate are typical
• On upland peat and rotting wood; rocky heathland near the sea (County Cork).

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia cornuta at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.