Cladonia coccifera (L.) Willd.
Fl. Berolin.: 361, 1787. Basionym: Lichen cocciferus L. - Sp. Pl.: 1151, 1753.
Synonyms: Capitularia asotea (Ach.) Flörke; Cladonia coccifera var. asotea Ach.; Cladonia coccifera var. stemmatina (Ach.) Vain.; Cladonia frondescens Nyl.
Description: Primary thallus squamulose, the squamules persistent, scattered or forming cushions, middle-sized, 2-4 mm long, variable in form, rounded or a little indented, yellowish green on upper side, white or often yellowish towards the base on lower side. Podetia goblet-shaped, hollow inside, yellowish green to greenish grey, 1-2(-3.5) cm tall, with 0.4-1.5 cm broad, regular or occasionally marginally proliferating cups with gradually tapering into short stalks, the surface covered in conspicuous, corticate, convex granules (schizidia), especially inside the cups, usually continuously corticate and sometimes sparsely squamulose at base. Apothecia frequent, scarlet red, convex, developing along the margins of cups. Asci 8-spored, clavate, thickened at apex, with a K/I+ blue tholus and a K/I+ strongly blue outer gelatinous sheath, Cladonia-type. Ascospores 1-celled, hyaline, ellipsoid. Pycnidia scarlet red to black, with a red jelly, pyriform, semi-immersed along the margins of cups. Conidia hyaline, curved. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests: K-, C-, KC+ yellow, P-, UV-. Chemistry: usnic acid and zeorin (the latter visible as a layer of crystals on the surface, especially in herbarium specimens), often also isousnic and porphyrilic acids; rhodocladonic acid in apothecia and pycnidia.
Growth form: Fruticose
Substrata: soil, terricolous mosses, and plant debris
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: common
Subalpine belt: extremely common
Montane belt: rare
Dry submediterranean belt: very rare
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
1 2 3 4 5
Solar irradiation:
1 2 3 4 5
Aridity:
1 2 3 4 5
Eutrophication:
1 2 3 4 5
Poleotolerance:
0 1 2 3
Altitudinal distribution:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
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Occurrence data
Predictive map
Current prediction (1981-2010)
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025
P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (14983)
2002/12/18

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (14987)
2002/12/18
margin of cups with red pycnidia

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.,
us: usnic acid, z: zeorin

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Bergamo, Vilminore di Scalve, 1530 m
30/04/2018

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Sondrio, Valmasino, 1047 m
08/2019

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Roch Tredudon

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Commana

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Commana

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Commana
Growth form: Fruticose
Substrata: soil, terricolous mosses, and plant debris
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly asexual, by soredia, or soredia-like structures (e.g. blastidia)
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: common
Subalpine belt: extremely common
Montane belt: rare
Dry submediterranean belt: very rare
Humid submediterranean belt: absent
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Solar irradiation:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Aridity:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Eutrophication:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Poleotolerance:
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Altitudinal distribution:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
Loading data...
Occurrence data
Predictive map



Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (14983)
2002/12/18

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (14987)
2002/12/18
margin of cups with red pycnidia

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.

Felix Schumm – CC BY-SA 4.0
[14274], Portugal, Azoren, W-Terceira, Serra do Cume, 38°42.417' N, 27°6.581' W, 500-550 m. Leg. Aptroot & Schumm 11.07.2008, det. Schumm 2013.,
us: usnic acid, z: zeorin

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Felix Schumm - CC BY-SA 4.0
[17204], Brasilien, Rio de Janeiro, Serra da Mantiqueira, Itatiaia, an einer stark bemoosten Wegböschung zwischen Registro do Picú und Agulhas Negras, 1700 m, 22°20' S, 44°45' W. Leg. K. Kalb, 12.07.1979, det. S. Stenroos. KALB: LICHENES NEOTROPICI 542.

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Bergamo, Vilminore di Scalve, 1530 m
30/04/2018

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Brescia, Corteno Golgi, 809 m
19/08/2019

Gabriele Gheza - https://lichenidilombardia.home.blog
Italy, Lombardia, Sondrio, Valmasino, 1047 m
08/2019

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Ardennes

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Roch Tredudon

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Commana

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=1179&lang=en
France, Commana
