Lipstick Powderhorn

Appearance

Podetia usually small, often about 1cm in height, cylindrical, blunt-tipped, unbranched or, at most, sparsely branched, grey, podetial surface powdery-sorediate, often with a few small squamules below; basal squamules relatively small, incised, grey, becoming grey-green when damp; apothecia red, button-like on the tips of the podetia.
Young material can be difficult or impossible to separate from young C. polydactyla, but it is generally much smaller, not always so intensely grey, much less variable, and does not develop cups. C. floerkeana is similar but usually larger and with conspicuous apothecia, and is granular rather than powdery sorediate.

Naming

Cladonia macilenta is often divided into two species, called C. macilenta and C. bacillaris (the nomenclature is in need of clarification) based on the presence or absence of thamnolic acid (revealed by K and P reactions). They are also regarded as chemotypes, following Christensen (1987) and Ahti (2000), although some authors claim that they have subtle morphological differences.

Distribution

All continents (Antarctica uncertain)

Habitat

Grows on dead wood, tree bases, or sometimes over soil or rocks.