Cladonia foliacea

In our area Cladonia foliacea is most frequently encountered in good quality coastal habitats, such as sand dunes and limestone cliff ledges. It is however also a frequent component of moss-lichen swards found on slag and occasionally coal spoil, but always on well-drained mildly acidic to basic soils in sunny situations. Colonies form loose mats of upturned squamules, which are yellow-green on top and white below. During dry weather the squamules curve up strongly exposing the white underside. It is more frequently not fertile, occasionally small, smooth cups are produced. The species also produces occasional clumps of black hairs on the squamule margins. Thallus C–, K–, KC+ yellow, Pd+ red, UV–.

Direct associates noted at a colony in short Calluna heath vegetation on coal spoil at Mynydd Garn-goch in February 2025 included Cladonia furcata ssp. furcata, Cladonia subcervicornis, Cladonia portentosa and Isopaches bicrenatus. In more basic conditions, within species-rich vegetation on BOS slag at Baglan, direct lichen associates included Diploschistes muscorum, Cladonia furcata ssp. furcata, C. pocillum and C. rangiformis.

Listed by Alan Orange in Flora of Glamorgan (Wade et al, 1994).