Lich. Helv. Spic.: 21 (1823).

Basionym: Lichen bellidiflora Ach., Lich. Suec. Prod.: 194 (1799) [1798].

Type locality: Sweden, E. Acharius s.n. (H-ACH 1569A - lectotype). Lectotypified by Ahti (1993: 68).
Thallus: dimorph, primary squamules disappearing, 2-5 mm long, crenate or laciniate, ascending to erect, flat or involute, sparse to abundant, upper surface yellowish or pale glaucescent, lower surface white, brown to black at base. Podetia 1-4(-5) cm tall, dying at base, yellow-green, yellow-grey or pale grey, + densely peeling-squamulose especially towards base, becoming corticate-granular or + decorticate and paler towards apices with translucent white or pale yellow areas, esorediate. Podetia subulate, or with narrow or often irregular cups. Apothecia red, rare, on cup margins or proliferations (Galloway 1985: 105).

Photobiont: Data lacking.

Chemistry: Cortex K-, KC+ yellow, Pd-, squamatic acid, + usnic acid (Galloway 1985: 105).

Ecology: In New Zealand in tussock grassland (Galloway 1985: 105). Data lacking.

Molecular data: Genbank

Distribution: Bipolar. Database

Note: There is a variety: Cladonia bellidiflora var. crassa Räsänen, Ann. Bot. Soc. Zool.-Bot. Fenn. "Vanamo" 20, 3: 20 (1944). Type localitiy: Chile, Aisén, Lago San Martín Glaciares, 1933, A. Donat 13 (H - lectotype; H - isolectotype). Lectotypification ba Athi & Kashiwadani 1984).