Cladonia squamosa #

Taxon #

Cladonia squamulosa

Organization #

Clade Perviae (Stenroos et al. 2018)

Identification #

Known as the dragon’s horn, this species has densely squamulose podetia but lacks soredia. It is ubiquitous in Alaska to the north slope of the Brooks Range. Similar looking but more slender taxa include squamulose specimens of C. gracilis ssp. elongata, C. singularis. Producing brown apothecia commonly.

Substrate #

Terricolous, muscicolous, lignicolous (Spribille et al. 2023)

Chemical Tests #

K- or K+ yellow, C-, KC- or KC+ yellow, Pd- or Pd+ yellow, UV- or UV+ “ice blue” (CLH)

Notes #

There is a form of this species (pictured) which appears common in SE Alaska which grows on trees and has abundant, clustered apothecia atop dark brown, sparingly squamulose podetia.

Photos #