Field Key to Cladoniiform Lichens

1a Podetia lacking, the main thallus consisting of primary squamules only, even in mature, well-developed specimens (Note: many young or poorly developed Cladonia specimens lack podetia); squamules especially robust, upturned, bluish gray above, white below………………………………… Cladonia apodocarpa

1b Podetia present on mature specimens………….. 2

2a Primary thallus crustose, persistent as a compact granular layer on the soil (Dibaeis or Pycnothelia, not Cladonia)……………………….. 3

2b Primary thallus squamulose, podetia tipped with brown or red apothecia or cup-shaped or merely pointed (Cladonia)………………………… 4

3a Podetia consisting of bright pink apothecia atop easily visible stalks…. Dibaeis baeomyces

3b Podetia massed, inflated and nipplelike (apothecia rare)…………. Pycnothelia papillaria

4a Podetia pointed, covered in finely powdered soredia; apothecia lacking…………….. Cladonia coniocraea

5b Podetia tipped with apothecia or cup-forming 5

5a Podetia tipped with red apothecia……………….. 6

5b Podetia tipped with brown apothecia or pointed or cup-forming…………………………….. 7

6a Soredia present on squamules and podetia, giving them a powdery appearance… Cladonia macilenta

6b Soredia lacking, podetia and squamules smooth………………………… Cladonia cristatella

7a Podetia cup-forming…………………………………. 8

7b Podetia not cup-forming, tipped with brown apothecia………………………………………………. 10

8a Cups proliferating from the center giving rise to successive tiers of cups in pagodalike fashion……………………….. Cladonia verticillata

8b Cups simple, not tiered……………………………… 9

9a Interior of cups lined with discoid squamules…………………………………….. Cladonia pyxidata

9b Interior of cups smooth or merely granular, not squamulose………. Cladonia grayii (and related species)

10a Podetia covered with finely divided squamules……………………. Cladonia squamosa

10b Podetia free of squamules………………………. 11

11a Soredia present on podetia and squamules…………………………………… Cladonia parasitica

11b Soredia lacking…………………………………….. 12

12a Podetia very short; apothecia sessile or nearly so in the squamules……… Cladonia caespiticia

12b Podetia well developed, clearly extending above the squamules………………………………. 13

13a Apothecia light brown, gracefully spilling over the sides, turbanlike………………. Cladonia peziziformis

13b Apothecia dark brown, strongly demarcated……………………………… Cladonia polycarpoides