Cladonia diversa Asperges ex S. Stenroos Cf. taxon océanique.

   Primary thallus formed of erect scales 2-5 mm high and 2-4 mm wide, rounded at the apices and slightly incised, upper surface greenish-yellow, greenish-grey, lower surface whitish. Podetions scyphae-shaped, unbranched, slender and not stocky, 5-20 mm high, yellowish-green, ending in a narrow, more or less regular cup, covered at the base with scales and towards the apices with flattened granules and/or micro-scales that can invade the cup. Apothecia generally numerous on the edges of the cups, globose and permanently bright red. Pycnidia numerous, tiny, sometimes at the apices of a pseudostipe, red or black. Photobiont: trebouxioid. C-, K-, KC+ yellowish, P-. Relatively common species but occurring in a very dispersed manner in acidic heathlands on the ground at the edge of paths or in places without vegetation at the edge of the sea.

N.B. Species variously interpreted by the authors which is why we present it here with the usual reservations and Cf. because it has not been analyzed (but this species is polyphyletic which further complicates the determinations!).

N.B. This species belongs to the group of Cladonia coccifera which also includes northern or mountain species such as:

_ Cladonia borealis whose scyphae with sometimes bare cups are more yellowish.

_ Cladonia pleurota which is sorediate.

_ Cladonia coccifera ss. str. is a less northern species whose scyphae are wider and covered with prominent and convex squamules and whose base of the podetions is sometimes corticated (appearance quite similar to Cladonia pyxidata but with less stocky scyphae and especially with bright red apothecia and pycnidia).

_ We also present a northern taxon that appears to be common in boreal forests and heathlands, see here: Cladonia diversa taxon nordique.