TYPE. CUBA. C. Wright, Lich. Ins. Cubae 39 (UPS, lectotype designated by Ahti (1961); BM, CUP, G, M, MIN, NL, isolectotypes).

Description. Lichenized fungus.

Thallus fruticose (primary thallus absent). Podetia whitish gray, 3-6 cm tall, forming densely-branched, rounded cushions 2-6 cm side; branching type regular, dichotomous and trichotomous. Photobiont Asterochloris alga. Ascomata biatorine apothecia, infrequent, brown, 0.5 mm diam.; ascospores not reported. Pycnidia globose to ovoid, containing hyaline jelly; conidia not reported.

Chemistry. UV+ blue-white, K+ yellow, KC-, C-, PD-; perlatolic acid, atronorin, anziatic acid (trace).

Substrate and Habitat. On open sandy soil or gravel at low elevations.

Distribution. Caribbean, eastern North America; in North Carolina found mostly along the coast. 

Literature

Abbayes, H. des. (1939) Revision monographique des Cladonia de sous-genre Cladina (lichens). Bulletin de la Société des Sciences de Bretagne 16: 1-156 (original description).

Ahti, T. (1961) Taxonomic studies on reindeer lichens (Cladonia, subgenus Cladina). Annales Botanici Societatis Zoologicae Botanicae Fennicae 'Vanamo' 32(1): i-iv + 1-160.

Ahti, T. (2000) Cladoniaceae. Flora Neotropica 78: 1-362.

Brodo, I.M., S. Duran Sharnoff & S. Sharnoff. (2001) Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven & London. 795 pp.