KEY to terricolous lichens - italic

7
Cladonia acuminata
28
Thallus fruticose, grey, K+ yellow changing to red, C-, KC-, P+ yellow. Podetia
bacilliform, corticate only at base, simple, areolate. Primary squamules medium-sized
(1-3mm). Apothecia rare, without a thalline margin, subterminal, stipitate. Surface
brown, convex. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, 8 per ascus. Pycnidia dark, semiimmersed.
Conidia cylindrical. Photobiont chlorococcoid. - Note: on calciferous soil
rich in humus in more or less open situations.
Thallus K-, P+ red. Podetia not very thick-walled, medullary hyphae not running
parallel to the surface
Cladonia coniocraea
Thallus fruticose, grey, K-, C-, KC-, P+ red. Podetia bacilliform, corticate only at
base, non squamulose, 1-4 cm tall, unbranched, occasionally with very small cups,
with a corticate and sometimes squamulose zone below. Soredia diffuse, farinose,
grey. Medulla UV -. Apothecia without a thalline margin. Surface brown, convex.
Ascospores hyaline, 8 per ascus. Photobiont chlorococcoid. - Note: on a wide variety
of organic substrata, incl. bark, and then mostly on basal parts of boles, but mostly on
soil rich in humus and rotten wood.
29 Thallus K+ red
Cladonia polycarpoides
Thallus fruticose, grey, K+ red, C-, KC-, P+ red. Podetia rare. Primary squamules
large, forming dense mats. Undersurface of squamules white. Apothecia rare, without
a thalline margin, subterminal, stipitate. Surface brown, convex. Ascospores hyaline,
ellipsoid, 8 per ascus. Pycnidia dark, semi-immersed. Conidia cylindrical. Photobiont
chlorococcoid. - Note: on more or less calcareous mineral soil in open grasslands and
on soil pockets on large isolated boulders, probably somehow overlooked in Italy and
more widespread in the Alps.
29 Not as above 30
30 Thallus K+ yellow 31
30 Thallus K- 32
31 Thallus KC-, P-. Primary squamules medium-sized (1-3mm)
Cladonia cariosa
Thallus fruticose, grey, K+ yellow, C-, KC-, P-. Podetia areolate, 0.5-2 cm tall,
sparingly branched above, partly decorticate-granulose, longitudinally fissured.
Primary squamules medium-sized (1-3mm), erect, entire or incised. Apothecia
frequent, without a thalline margin, subterminal, stipitate. Surface brown, convex.
Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, 8 per ascus. Pycnidia dark, semi-immersed. Conidia
cylindrical. Photobiont chlorococcoid. - Note: on disturbed mineral, often sandy soil
over more or less calcareous or base-rich substrata, most frequent in the Alps.
31 Thallus KC+ yellow, P+ orange. Primary squamules large (5-10 mm)
Cladonia symphycarpa
Thallus fruticose, grey, K+ yellow, C-, KC+ yellow, P+ orange. Podetia areolate, to 1
cm tall, very rare, with irregular cups. Primary squamules large, to 2-3 mm tall,
horizontally spreading, with recurved margins, grey-green above. Undersurface of
squamules white. Apothecia frequent, without a thalline margin, subterminal, stipitate.
Surface brown, convex. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, 8 per ascus. Pycnidia dark,
semi-immersed. Conidia cylindrical. Photobiont chlorococcoid. - Note: on calcareous
ground in dry grasslands or on the top of large, exposed calcareous boulders, certainly
occurring throughout S Italy.
32 Primary squamules medium-sized (1-3mm broad), white below
Cladonia caespiticia
Thallus fruticose, greenish grey, K-, C-, P+ red. Podetia elongate, to 3 mm tall,
decorticate. Primary squamules medium-sized, to 7 mm long, irregularly incised and
ascending, often forming low cushions. Undersurface of squamules white. Medulla
UV -. Apothecia rare, without a thalline margin, subterminal, substipitate. Surface
brown, convex. Asci bitunicate. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, 8 per ascus. Pycnidia
semi-immersed. Conidia cylindrical. Photobiont chlorococcoid. - Note: on mineral,
generally sandy-clay soil, occasionally on rotting wood and on bases of ancient trunks,