Description: These are the ‘devil’s matchsticks’ of lore. C. floerkeana has dark red discs borne at the top of the stalks (podetia) never from cups. These arise from scattered patches of small, grey scales (squamules) spread over the peaty soils of moors and bogs. The grey stalks are barely divided. While scaly towards the base, the stalks are granular above. It occurs in suitable habitats throughout Ireland, but may be becoming less common in areas enriched by farming or cattle. It can also occur on mossy rocks and on the rotten wood of fence posts.

Key Identification Features:

• The dark red apothecia and greyish podetia help to distinguish it from similar, red-fruited species
• The scaly podetia distinguishes it from Cladonia macilenta, which lacks squamules.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia floerkeana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.