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

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

Type locality: Sweden, Dalarna, Stora Kopparberg, Rotneby ("Rottneby prope urbem Fahlun Dalekarliae"), C. Stenhammar in Stenhammar: Lich. Suec. Exs. ed. 2 210 (UPS - neotype; H - isoneotype). Lectotypification by Ahti (1993: 100).

Chemistry: Usnic acid, squamatic acid in the subsp. biuncialis (Schedt HBG, Leuckert HBG).

Note: There is a subspecies:
Cladonia uncialis subsp. biuncialis (Hoffm.) M. Choisy, Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Lyon 20: 9 (1951). Basionym: Cladonia biuncialis Hoffm., Deutschl. Fl. 2: 116 (1796). Type locality: [Germany ?], G. F. Hoffmann s.n. (MW-Hoffm 8614 - neotype). Neotypification by Ahti 1978, ealier designated as "lectotype" (Ahti 1993: 100).