Deutschl. Fl. (Frankfurt) 3, 2: 139 (1813)
Basionym: Lichen calicaris L., Sp. Pl. 2: 1146 (1753).
Protolog: Data lacking.
Protolog type data: Data lacking.
Type locality: Data lacking.
Type locality coordinates: Data lacking.
Molecular barcode: Data lacking.
Thallus: fruticose, 5 - 8 - 15 cm long, strongly branched, in coarse, upright tufts, becoming pendent when old, pale grey-green, stiff and spiky when dry; branches 2-3-10 mm wide, solid, usually distinctly channelled, especially towards the base, surface shiny, smooth, texture hard and horn-like, slightly furrowed towards the base, some samples with irregular surface; pseudocyphellae frequent but indistinct, punctiform, rounded, marginal or laminar. Medulla fairly dense, more dense than that of Ramalina elegans, chondroid tissue forming a continuous cylinder under the cortex. Apothecia frequent, mainly marginal, subterminal, on the bends of angled branches, sometimes geniculate with a short spur. Ascospores 10-16 x 5-7 µm, broadly ellipsoid, straight (Purvis & James 1992: 525; Arroyo et al. 1995: 25).
Photobiont: Data lacking.
Chemistry: Medulla P-, K-, KC-, C-, UV-, usnic acid, + sekikaic acid complex (Purvis & James 1992: 525).
Ecology: On branches and twigs, especially of trees and shrubs with a nutrient-rich bark, rarer on tree trunks, often near the coast in well-lit situations; locally abundant.
Distribution Type: Canary Islands - Western Mediterranean. Canary Islands: La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Iberian Peninsula. Da stimmt was nicht R. calicaris ist subkosmopolitisch.
Note: The number and width of branches vary. Specimens restricted to a few broad, poorly developed branches, to 10 mm wide, can be confused with R. fraxinea and straggling morphs may resemble R. fastigata; the overall tough texture of the thallus and channelling of the main branches, especially towards their base, are diagnostic.
Race I: Usnic acid, sekikaic acid, often present only in small amounts, 57.8 % of the specimens, always contains sekikaic acid in lower concentrations than Ramalina elegans, trace amounts of homosekikaic acid that may not be detected by HPLC (Arroyo et al. 1995: 25).
Race II: Usnic acid, deficient in colourless acids, 42.2 % of the specimens (Arroyo et al. 1995: 25, Iberian Peninsula).
Both chemotypes have been found growing together in the same localities in the Iberian Peninsula (Arroyo et al. 1995: 25, Iberian Peninsula).