Cladonia squamosa

The primary thallus is composed of medium-sized, crenate squamules, approximately 1.5-7mm. long, and 1-5mm. wide. The upper surface is fawn or tan to cinnamon-colored varying toward greenish grey. The apothecia are small, ranging from .5-3 mm. in diameter, and are located on the margin of the cups or at the ends of branches or proliferations. They are fawn to cinnamon-colored. The paraphyses are usually simple, sometimes thickened, and are brownish towards the apex. The hymenium is pale or pale-brownish below and brownish above. The asci are lecanoralean, with a thickened tholus. There are a usually 8 ascospores, which are oblong or oblong-obtuse to fusiform in shape, between 5-17 µm. long and 2.5-3.5 µm. wide. Conidia are falcate and 3-8 µm. long. [3][4]

This species is widespread in North America and occasional in the Pacific Northwest. [5]

Cladonia squamosa

"Cladonia squamosa is widespread on soil, mosses and humus covered rocks in mature and open woods in most of eastern United States and Canada" [6]

Secondary metabolites of Cladonia squamosa include barbatic acid, decarboxythamnolic acid, thamnolic acid, squamatic acid as well as various unknown or unidentified terpenes and/or terpenoids. [4][7]

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