Description: This is a common species of sandy, heathy places and peaty moors away from blanket bog. The thallus consists of small, green, upright squamules that have a notched outline, and are white with a hint of mauve on the underside. The short stalks (podetia) do not produce tiered layers as in ssp. verticillata. It is relatively frequent in suitable habitats throughout Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• The white undersurface and notched edge to the squamules help to indicate this species
• The similar Cladonia subcervicornis is a much larger, clump-forming species with a blue-green, less incised upper surface. It is more frequently seen on acid rocks, though may occur on soil.

Original text submitted by Simon Davey

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

iNaturalist: Cladonia cervicornis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.