Cladonia uncialis (L.) F.H. Wigg. subsp. biuncialis (Hoffm.) M. Choisy

    Primary thallus made of small squamules disappearing soon. Podetia up to 5 cm tall, forming short cushions, spiny when dry,  branches fragile breaking easily and then resembling macaroni, hollow and with relatively thick walls and an internal surface powdered white especially towards the top, divergent, with mostly dichotomous divisions, very rarely pierced in their axils, the terminal branches are very pointed, forked with 2 (3-4) spiny branches, pinkish-brown. Cortex looks like snakeskin in humid weather, cream-greenish, pale greenish-gray if fresh but overall is pale yellowish, whitish, pale greenish in dry weather.  Apothecia very rare, terminal, brown. Pycnidia very rare. Photobiont : trebouxioide. Thallus: C-, K-, KC+ pale yellow, Pd-. Not especially maritime but not rare in coastal aerohaline heathlands (often with Cladonia portentosa).

N.B. Many modern authors do not distinguish two species, because the differences in molecular phylogeny are minimal, and only keep the rank of subspecies to respect "tradition".

N.B. Cladonia zopfii is another probably confused and close taxon, diversely analysed according to authors, growing also on acid heathlands, it differs by its more yellowish coloring, the more slender branches, surface cottony, matt, chemical spot tests negative.