Cladonia coccifera (L.) Willd

     Primary thallus formed of small scales of 1-3 mm with rounded top and weakly incised upper surface gray-greenish a little bluish, lower surface whitish. Regular podetia, erect, ending in a funnel-shaped cup (scyphus) 1-3 cm high, sometimes bearing proliferations, covered towards the base with small corticate plates or granules mixed with squamules towards the base and only small plates towards the top and in the cup, green a little bluish. Apothecia sometimes numerous at the margin of the cups, globular, bright red. Spores colorless, oblong, 6-12 x 2.5-3.5 µm. Reddish punctate pycnidia containing red gel at the margin of the cups. Photobiont: Chlorococcales. C-, K-, KC +/- yellow, P-. Collinean or somewhat mountainous species growing on stony or sandy soils but rich in organic matter, (heath), sometimes at the base of trees. Representative of a group in which we have gathered: Cladonia pleurota which is only sorediate; Cladonia diversa very similar but to podetia with a base covered with numerous scales and fragile granules and a top covered with small scaly plates which is more coastal or oceanic; Cladonia borealis which is alpine and boreal.

N.B. All these species if they do not have a "typical" appearance (which is frequent!) require a chemical analysis to be identified.