Description: This lichen is not unlike the coastal species Cladonia foliacea. Growing on the exposed peaty soils of rock outcrops, ledges and old, dry stone walls, the striking features are the large, crisped pale yellow (K-) scales (squamules) which form the thallus. Using a lens, it is best to check the underside of the squamules which have a cottony (not smooth) texture. Discs are very rare. North-east and south-east Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• The crisped, pale yellow (K-, Pd-) squamules (to 1cm long) with cottony undersurfaces and habitat of peaty rocks should be sufficient to determine this species
• Cladonia foliacea (which is Pd+red) has deeply-cut squamules and smoother undersurfaces that are never cottony.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia luteoalba at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.