A red-fruited species usually easily recognizable based on granular (but sometimes farinose) soredia on the surface of quite wide scyphi. It is a polyphyletic taxon, based on molecular data indistinguishable from the similar, also zeorin-containing, C. deformis (Steinová et al. 2013).
In the Czech Republic, it is the most abundant of the red-fruited scyphose Cladonia species (C. coccifera group). It grows from the lowest to the highest elevations, on a variety of stands and substrates, including curious substrates, such as an old textile, a leather glove, etc. It is usually abundant on, e.g., rocks, exposed soil or dead wood. In Europe, C. pleurota is also one of the widely distributed and relatively abundant species.
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: 298, confirmed 245. One click on a selected square displays particular record(s), including their source(s).