Description: C. uncialis is a very common lichen of peaty moorlands throughout most of Ireland. It is generally an easy plant to recognise on account of its smooth, swollen, hollow stems which are forked towards the top to form pointed branches, rather spiky and prickly when dry. The yellowy-grey colour is easy to spot against the background of peaty soil, dark green moss carpets or brown leaf litter.

Key Identification Features:

• Usually in loose clumps of yellow-grey stems that are smooth and hollow and which can be squeezed flat when moist
• The ends of each stem are forked and tapered into very fine points.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia uncialis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.