Description: This yellow-green Cladonia lichen, the scales of which have a lower, pale yellow side, can form dense mats of scaly squamules across large areas. It grows best on short, dry, calcareous soils (sandy dunes, stable shingle, rock crevices and cliff tops) by or near the sea, rarely inland. The dominant feature is the squamules which can grow to nearly 2cm high. These are rather indented and ragged which, when dry, curl back to show their undersides. Throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Thallus of ragged, yellow-green scaly squamules, pale-yellow below
• On short turf and in soily crevices of sea cliffs.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia foliacea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.