Cladonia verticillata (Hoffm.) Schaer.

A conspicuous lichen due to its tiered podetia, which may form several levels. The upper cup always arises from the centre of the lower one. The main character separating it from the very similar, narrowly circumscribed C. cervicornis, which can also occasionally form multi-tiered podetia, is the morphology of the persistent basal squamules. According to van Herk & Aptroot (2003), in C. verticillata these squamules are usually smaller, more or less rounded (never elongate or tongue-shaped), entire to shallowly incised, not ascending when dry, and often with a bluish tinge when wet. However, because both taxa are highly variable, they can sometimes be difficult to distinguish; therefore, some records in this atlas are treated as C. cervicornis agg. A very similar, almost identical-looking species is C. pulvinata, which can be reliably distinguished by the presence of psoromic acid (Pd+ bright yellow). This species, however, has not yet been recorded from the Czech Republic.

A species of acidic, sandy soils, occurring for example in heathlands, sand pits, acidophilous pine forests and oak woods, and even at anthropogenic sites. In Europe it is more common mainly in the northern part of the continent. In the Czech Republic it is scattered, occurring chiefly in Bohemia and less frequently in Moravia; in areas with sandy soils it may be locally abundant.

Literature: Van Herk C. M. & Aptroot A. (2003): A new status for the Western European taxa of the Cladonia cervicornis group. – Bibliotheca Lichenologica 86: 193–203. Pino-Bodas R., Herrero A., Aptroot A., Søchting U., McMullin R. T. & Burgaz A. R. (2024): Phylogenetic study of the Cladonia cervicornis group (Cladoniaceae, Lecanorales) discloses a new species, Cladonia teuvoana. – The Lichenologist 56: 237–258.

Ascomycota → Lecanoromycetes → Lecanorales → Cladoniaceae → Cladonia