Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 3, 18: 406 (1866).

Type locality: Russia, Murmansk Region, Kola Reninsula, Svyatoynos, 1863, N. I. Fellman in Fellman, Lich. Arct. 28 (BM - lectotype; H - isolectotype).

Note: There is a subspecies:
Cladonia ecmocyna subsp. intermedia (Robbins) Ahti, Ann. Bot. Fenn. 17: 227 (1980). Basionym: Cladonia elongata f. intermedia Robbins, Rhodora 33: 137 (1931). Type locality: USA, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, Canyon Junction, 1927, S. F. Blake s.n. (FH - holotype; US - isotype).