Cladonia portentosa explained

Cladonia portentosa, also known as reindeer lichen or the cream cup lichen, is a light-coloured, fruticose, cup lichen in the family Cladoniaceae.

A similar-looking species, also known by the common name "reindeer lichen", is Cladonia rangiferina.

Description

Cladonia portentosa forms compact interwoven mats up to 6 cm tall. It is richly branched, each branch usually dividing into three but with the penultimate sometimes dividing into two. The branching is at a larger angle than that of Cladonia rangiferina.^[1]

Conservation status

As of July 2021, its conservation status has not been estimated by the IUCN. In Iceland, its conservation status is denoted as data deficient (DD).

See also

• List of Cladonia species

Illustrations

Gilbert, O. 2004.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Dobson, Frank S., Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species, Richmond Publishing, Slough, 5th edn 2005.
2. Gilbert, O. 2007. Lichens Scottish Natural Heritage