(Fig. 6a)

Primary thallus persistent, of ascendant and crenulate squamules, esorediate, epruinose; podetia common, slender, whitish gray or greenish gray sometimes with brown areas but not necrotic, elongate; 0.6–4 cm tall, simple; axils close; tips initially blunt but soon developing into narrow, very irregular, shallow and typically proliferating scyphi; surface mostly corticate but with small denuded areas; patches of the cortex flaking off as microsquamules, these eventually disintegrating into ecorticate soredia, typically becoming densely sorediate, but lacking corticate granules; pycnidia not seen; apothecia with brown jelly.

Spot tests and chemistry: P+ red, K−, C−, KC−, UV−; fumarprotocetraric acid.

Distribution and ecology: Currently known from Isabela, Pinta, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz; common throughout the humid zone, on soil or rock, often among plant debris and bryophytes.

Notes: Specimens of C. aff. ramulosa can be extremely similar to C. pulverulenta and poorly developed specimens cannot always be identified with certainty; see the diagnostic differences discussed there. Although Cladonia ramulosa s.str. was reported by Ahti (2000) for South America, it may generally be questioned whether this species even occurs in this continent as preliminary molecular studies suggest that most South American specimens previously identified as C. ramulosa actually belong to at least one, possibly several distinct, yet still undescribed species.

Selected specimens examined: ECUADOR. GALAPAGOS: Isabela Island, Volcán Cerro Azul, S-slope above Iguana Cove, 300 m, humid zone, on wood, 22 June 1976, Sipman, H. J.M. L-39 (COLO 297923); Volcán Sierra Negra, trail climbing up to Sierra Negra crater, 0°49’41.39”S, 91°5’30.10”W, 967 m, humid zone, on wood, 14 Aug 2008, Herrera - Campos, M.A. 10548 (CDS 40284); El Mango, on the E-side of the dirt road, 0°53’1.7”S, 91°0’50.79”W, 162 m, transition zone, on soil, 15 Aug 2008, Bungartz, F. 8185 (CDS 40831). Pinta Island, E-slope of the highest crater, on highest rim of highest crater, 650 m, humid zone, on rock, 10 July 1976, Sipman, H. J.M. L-139 (COLO 297821); E-slope of the highest crater, 550 m, humid zone, in open mossy Zanthoxylum forest, nearly vertical SE-exposed rock face, on rock, 10 July 1976, Sipman, H. J.M. L-138 (COLO 297822). San Cristóbal Island, Wreck Bay, SE-side of the main mountain, 600 m, humid zone, on rock and moist earth, 6 July 1906, Stewart, A. 426 (COLO 255411); Cerro Colorado, enclosure for Calandrinia galapagosa near the viewpoint on the top, 0°54’58”S, 89°26’5”W, 130 m, transition zone, on rock, 29 Apr 2007, Bungartz, F. 6737 (CDS 34981) Santa Cruz Island, base of El Puntudo, humid zone, summit grassland, large boulders strewn about, on rock, 16 June 1972, Weber, W.A. (COLO 256035), along trail from Media Luna to El Puntudo, 0°39’9.80”S, 90°19’59.29”W, 724 m, humid zone, on bark, 10 Aug 2008, Clerc, P. 08-105B, 08-125A (CDS 46961, CDS 39979), vicinity of Academy Bay, La Copa (= Media Luna), humid zone, 15 Feb 1964, Weber, W.A. 86, 96, 426 (COLO 195014, 192067, 193444).