A red-fruited Cladonia member of the C. coccifera agg. which differs from C. coccifera s. str. by slender and relatively high podetia with granules, microsquamules and minute plates on the surface. The two species are not distinguished genetically (Steinová et al. 2013).
Cladonia diversa is a terricolous lichen, growing on acidic soil, most commonly near rock outcrops, in xerothermic grasslands, on sandbanks and heathlands. It is also abundant on sandstones where it may grow directly on the rock substrate. The species also colonizes secondary stands with loose unstable surface, such as spoil piles, heaps or newly formed quarry pits. Its European distribution centre lies in the north-west part with Atlantic climate. In the Czech Republic, it is scattered at lower and middle elevations. It is rare in Moravia.
Literature: Steinová J., Stenroos S., Grube M. & Škaloud P. (2013): Genetic diversity and species delimitation of the zeorin-containing red-fruited Cladonia species (lichenized Ascomycota) assessed with ITS rDNA and β-tubulin data. – Lichenologist 45: 665–684. Steinová J., Bouda F., Malíček J., Palice Z., Peksa O., Svoboda D. & Vondrák J. (2015): Poznámky k rozšíření a ekologickým preferencím zástupců skupiny Cladonia coccifera v České republice. – Bryonora 55: 4–19.
taxonomic classification:Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Cladoniaceae → Cladonia
Red List (Liška & Palice 2010):NT – near threatened
Occurrence in the Czech Republic
All records: 82, confirmed 76. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).