Taxonomy

Cladonia azorica

Distribution

Status

Conservation status


HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING*
RangeN/A
PopulationN/A
HabitatN/A
Future ProspectsN/A
Overall  Assessment of Conservation StatusInadequate
Overall Trend in Conservation StatusStable
*A particular subset of Cladonia species, the subgenus Cladina, is identified as requiring assessment under the Habitats Directive. Guidelines on reporting for the Habitats Directive indicate that these species are required to be reported on as a group, unless a member state is of the opinion that individual species within the group may require special attention. In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 none of the Cladonia species of the Habitats Directive occurring in Ireland were identified as requiring special attention.


The Conservation Status in the table above is then for the entire subgenus Cladina as found in Ireland rather than for the individual species.

Source: NPWS 2013; European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity.


IUCN Conservation Status
Ireland
Not evaluated
Europe (1)
Not evaluated
Global (1)Not evaluated

Source: (1) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2 2014.

There is no current, published, IUCN Red Data List for Irish lichen species. While the conservation status of individual lichen species in Ireland can not be inferred from their status in Wales or England, the results of recent assessments within those jurisdictions are provided here for information.

In both the 2012 Conservation Evaluation of British Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi, and the 2010 Lichen Red Data List for Wales Cladonia azorica is listed as Least Concern.

Sources: Woods, R. G. 2010; Woods, R.G. & Coppins, B. J. 2012.

Legal status

Protected by the following legal instruments:

  • Habitats Directive [92/42/EEC] Annex V

Native status

Native. Cladonia azorica was first recorded in Ireland in 1989. It is possible that it is more widespread than maps indicate but has been under-recorded due to confusion with Cladonia portentosa, Cladonia arbuscula or Cladonia ciliata var. ciliata. The chemotype recorded in Ireland, that chemotype containing usnic acid, is one that has only rarely been recorded in Britain.

Source: Orange, A. 1993.

Online maps available to view via the British Lichen Society's web page indicate that there is only one record for Cladonia azorica in Ireland as of 2014.

Species Biology

Identification

The species in Cladonia subgenus Cladina are popularly known as 'reindeer moss', and these species are the much branched lichens that in Ireland are often found as balls, tufts or mats among low vegetation such as heather on blanket bogs, raised bogs and heaths or for some species among vegetation on dunes.

Although the morphology of the subgenus is distinctive, identification to species or variety level can be difficult and may involve microscopic examination and the use of chemicals in order to be certain.

In subgenus Cladina the distinctive branched, fruticose (tree- or shrub-like) growth form is preceded by a crustose stage from which the hollow, branched podetia develop. This crustose stage does not persist after the podetia have been.

For Cladonia azorica only the chemotype containing usnic acid has been recorded in Ireland so far. That chemotype is more green-yellow than the chemotype that lacks usnic acid, which is greyer. In Britain the chemotype lacking usnic acid is the more commonly recorded of the two. It is possible that in Ireland the chemotype lacking usnic acid may be more common but has been mis-identified as Cladonia ciliata or Cladonia portentosa.

Brown apothecia, when formed, are found at the apices of podetia.

Apart from the green-yellow colour and fruticose growth form described Cladonia azorica also has the following characteristics;


  • Colourless pycnidial slime.

  • Ultimate branching of podetia may be trichotomous, but dichotomous branching is most frequent.

  • Tips of branches are not recurved.

  • Pycnidia are present.

  • Rim of pycnidial ostiole occasionally light brown.
  • Main branches from 0.9mm to 1mm in diameter.
  • Podetia to 6cm.
  • Branching is fine and delicate.

Chemical reactions:

  • C-   (Sodium hypochlorite negtive)
  • K-    (Potassium hydroxide negative)
  • KC+ (Potassium hydroxide, followed by Sodium hypochlorite positive giving a yellow colour )
  • P+    (Paraphenylenediamine [caution-caracinogenic] positive giving a red colour)
Examination of the medulla under UV light gives a pale blue fluorescence.

Sources: Smith C. W. et al 2009; Dobson Frank S. 2005; Orange, A. 1993.

Habitat

Habitats may include but are not necessarily limited to;

  • Siliceous scree and loose rock (ER3)
  • Oak-birch-holly woodland (WN1)

Source: Orange, A. 1993.

Reproduction

Lichens are a mutualistic association between a fungal and algal partner and lichens do not reproduce sexually as such, however the lichenized fungal partner may do so.

In lichenized fungi the organs involved in reproduction are the same as in the non-lichenized forms of the fungi.

For Cladonia species the fungal partner is an ascomycete fungus. In these fungi the fruiting body in which spores are produced sexually is termed an apothecium. On dispersal the haploid 'ascospores', in order to produce another lichen, will need to come in contact with a suitable algal partner.

Asexually produced spores are produced in a flask-like structure, a pycnidium. When present these are located at the tips of podetia of lichens in Cladonia subgenus Cladina.

For species in Cladonia subgenus Cladina with many delicate, protruding branches fragmention provides a useful vegetative method of asexual reproduction.

Sources: Whelan, Paul 2011; Smith C. W. et al 2009.

Threats faced

In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no threats were listed for this species. In that reporting period the named Cladonia species of the Habitats Directive occurring in Ireland were given an 'Overall Assessment of Conservation Status' of 'Inadequate' due to;

  • Ongoing pressures on the habitats where they occur.
Source: NPWS 2013.

Conservation actions

In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 no Conservation Measures in place or in the process of being implemented during the period were listed for this species.

Source: NPWS 2013.

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Recorded from the Azores, Madeira, Britain and Ireland.

Source: Orange, A. 1993.

Accuracy of world distribution shown in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) map below will be constrained by, amongst other factors, data held but not shared by countries and organizations not participating in the GBIF.

Irish distribution

First recorded from one site on the Dingle peninsula in 1989. It may be more common but under-recorded.

Source: Orange, A. 1993.


Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025

The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.

How can you help

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is trying to improve our knowledge of the distribution of Cladonia azorica in Ireland. Should you observe this species, please submit sightings to add to the database. Detailed observations will assist us gaining a better insight into where the species is most abundant in Ireland and we might also be able to detect regional variations. Please submit any sightings and photographs at:

http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/

All records submitted online can be viewed on Google Maps – once checked and validated these will be added to the database and made available for conservation and research.

Further information

For further information contact Dr. Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie

References

Publications

Dobson Frank S.  Lichens: An Illustrated Guide to the British and Irish Species 2005. Richmond Press, Slough

NPWS (2013) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland.  Species Assessments Volume 3. Version 1.0. Unpublished Report, National Parks & Wildlife Services. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland

NPWS (2007a) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Backing Documents, Article 17 forms,Maps. Volume 3

NPWS (2007b) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Backing Documents, Article 17 forms,Maps. Volume 1

Orange, Alan. Cladonia azorica in the British Isles.The Lichenologist. Vol. 25. Issue 02. April 1993, pp 105-114

Seaward, M.R.D. 2010 Census Catalogue of Irish Lichens (3rd Edition).  National Museums of Nothern Ireland.

eds. Smith C. W., Aptroot A., Coppins B. J., Fletcher A., Gilbert O. L., James P. W. and Wolseley P. A. (2009). The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland. The British Lichen Society, London.

Whelan, Paul W., 2011 Lichens of Ireland, The Collins Press, Cork.

Woods, R. G. 2010 A Lichen Red Data List for Wales, Plantlife, Salisbury.

Woods, R.G. & Coppins, B. J. 2012. A Conservation Evaluation of British Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi. Species Status 13. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

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