Cladonia cornuta
Podetia 1-5 cm tall, grey to brownish-green, smooth and ± faintly pale areolate-corticate in lower half, grey-green to grey-white and densely farinose-sorediate in the upper half, the apices pointed, unbranched, rarely with narrow scyphi; a few squamules occasionally present towards the base. Basal squamules rather small, ± rounded, scarcely indented.
Anamorph: no information available.
Teleomorph: ascomata apothecia, brown, very rare, at apices of podetia.
Chemistry: thallus C–, K–, KC–, Pd+ red, UV– (fumarprotocetraric acid).
Assessed by Woods & Coppins (2012) as of Least Concern.
The half-corticate, half-sorediate, pointed, usually brownish, simple podetia are diagnostic.
Widespread and common in Scotland, rare in lowland Britain. BLS map here.
On peat and rotting wood in moorlands, especially montane lichen heaths.