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Cladonia firma: The Popcorn Lichen

Cladonia firma, commonly known as popcorn lichen, is a fascinating species belonging to the lichen family Cladoniaceae.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cladonia firma (Nyl.) Nyl.
• Common Name: Popcorn lichen
• Family: Cladoniaceae
• Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Cladonia alcicornis var. firma Nyl.
  • Cladonia foliacea var. firma (Nyl.) Nyl.
  • Cladonia foliacea var. firma (Nyl.) Vain.
  • Cladonia nylanderi Cout.
  • Cenomyce firma Laurer
  • Index Fungorum: Cladonia firma (Laurer) Kremp.
• Element Code: NLT0008460
• Taxon Version Key: NBNSYS0000018370

Distribution and Habitat

• Cladonia firma has been found on the coast of central California, growing on soil.
• It has also been reported from the Canary Islands.
• Additional records exist in Northern Ireland, as collated by CEDaR.
• It occurs within the aerohaline zone, an environment influenced by airborne sea salt.

Morphological Characteristics

• The primary thallus is squamulose, persistent, and conspicuous.
• Squamules can reach up to 25 mm long and 10 mm wide.
• The upper surface color ranges from glaucescent green to olivaceous.
• The lower surface is bluish gray.
• Primary thallus tufted, squamules are 0.4-1 cm tall and indented.

Quirky Facts

• One of its common names is popcorn lichen.

Further Information

• APHOTOFUNGI - Photographic Stock Library: The Lichen Gallery
• Stephen Sharnoff's Lichen Photos - The Lichen Herbarium, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway
• Discover Life: Discover Life
• Index Fungorum: Index Fungorum
• NBN Atlas Northern Ireland Dataset: CEDaR.