Prim. Fl. Holsat.: 90 (1780).

Basionym: Lichen rangiferinus L., Sp. Pl.: 1153 (1753).

Type locality: [Sweden], Herb. Linnaeus 1273.240 (LINN - lectotype). Lectotypified by Nourish & Olivier (1974).

Note: There is a subspecies and a variety:
Cladonia rangiferina subsp. grisea Ahti, Ann. Bot. Soc. Zool.-Bot. Fenn. "Vanamo" 32, 1: 96 (1961). Type locality: Japan, Pref. Yamanashi, Lake Yamanake at foot of Mt. Fuji, 1952, Y. Asahina s.n. (TNS - holotype; H - isotype).
Cladonia rangiferina var. abbayesii Ahti, Ann. Bot. Soc. Zool.-Bot. Fenn. "Vanamo" 32, 1: 94 (1961). Type locality: Colombia, Cundinamarca, Bogotá, 1860-1870, A. Lindig 2513 (UPS - holotype; BM, H-NYL 1184, M, S - isotypes).