Cladonia rangiformis
Description
Podetia are greyish, richly branched, commonly terminating in spiky tufts with pointed, dark ends. The surface of the podetia appearing speckled, with groups of green algal cells on a paler background, looking like the pattern on a giraffe's neck.
Identification difficulty

Habitat
Often found on dunes or in rather dry, neutral to basic grassland.
When to see it
All year round
UK Status
Widespread and locally common in Britain.
VC55 Status
Local in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015