Description: In upland country generously endowed with siliceous rock outcrops this rather common lichen will be one of the first to be noticed by beginners. On the soily tops of rocky ledges or boulders it develops thick, tangled carpets of densely packed scales (2cm or more in size) which, when dry, can be levered off the rock in sheets. The scaly squamules turn a pretty apple green when wet, but the crisp undersides remain white except at the base which is black. The discs offer little of identification note.

Key Identification Features:

• Forms thick mattresses of scaly growth on soily tops of rock outcrops and boulders
• The scales are grey-green above and white below, turning a beautiful shade of apple green when wet.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia subcervicornis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.