Cladonia ramulosa morpho ramulosa

    Primary thallus formed of small, more or less numerous squamules which not disappear in old age. Numerous podetia, 3-8 cm high, very irregular and often branched, with indistinct, misshapen scyphus, bearing squamules at the margin and at the bottom of the cups, corticated surface with a discontinuous algal layer giving "peeled" areas then with small squamules, pale greenish gray, turning brown as it dries. Base of podetia not black. Apothecia rare, globose, 1-2 mm in diameter, brownish, blackish. Pycnidia often very numerous at the margin of the scyphus in the form of tiny brown globules carried by a small stipe, filled with colorless jelly. C-, K+/- yellow-brown, KC+/- yellow, P+ red, UV-. Taxon occurring in rocky and stony acidic heathlands, particularly on top of seaside cliffs.