Ahti, T., Stenros, S., & Moberg, R. (2013). Nordic Lichen Flora Volume 5-Cladoniaceae (Vol. 5). Nordic Lichen Society
PRIMARY THALLUS squamulose, persistent to evanescent, to 1 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, thickish. PODETIA 3-6 cm tall, 1-2 mm thick, castaneous brown to pale grey, melanotic in necrotic parts, becoming elongate, scyphose; scyphi 0.5-1 cm wide, margins dentate and often with long narrowly scyphose proliferations. Surface characteristically verruculose-areolate, glossy, felty, thick medulla visible in the interspaces of the areoles, phyllidioid, bullate squamules occasional on pedetial stalk and inside the scyphi, spreading or downturned, occasionally rhizinate along margins, esorediate. APOTHECIA common, 0.5-2 mm wide, on short stalks, dark brown. PYCNIDIA common on scyphal margins, globose to ovoid, containing hyaline slime.
Habitat. On humus rich soil, probably not very acid, perhaps preferably on moist to wet sites.
Distribution. A few localities in West, East, and North Greeland, also in Central and North Sweden, probably elsewhere but not recognized. Gr. S: Jmt. TL. Widespread in Northeast Asia, Alaska, western Canada, Greenland.
Note. This species long recognized in Siberia has only recently been reported from Europe and North America based on our field observations in Siberia. It is a critical taxon and member of the C. pyxidata group, but when well-developed it is distinguished by taller growth, melanotic base, and characteristic reddish-brown, shiny, verruculose podetial surface. The primary squamules resemble those of C. pocillum but are more upright and divided.