Cladonia squamosula Müll.Arg.
Primary squamules small, persistent or disappearing, 3-5 mm diam., subpalmately lobed, imbricate, crowded, margins crenate-incised, olivaceous-greyish above, white below, sometimes ± sorediate. Podetia growing from upper surface of primary squamules, 10-20 mm tall, to 1.5 mm diam., terete, simple or bifurcating, tapering towards apices, cupless. Cortex abundantly, finely to coarsely granular and squamulose, squamules isidioid, corticate below, tips often decorticate, free of granules and squamules, greenish-grey to dark greyish. Apothecia small, peltate, terminal, pale brownish. Chemistry: Cortex K+ deep yellow, C-, KC, Pd+, Yellow. Thamnolic acid.
S: Canterbury (Boyle River near Lewis Pass, Cass), but probably more widely distributed. On rotten wood, stumps etc., in damper areas.
Australasian