The terricolous lichen flora on the Dungeness shingle, in south-east England, includes an abundance of members of the Cladonia chlorophaea complex. From a detailed examination of morphological and chemical attributes, the ‘species’ present are identified as Cladonia chlorophaea s. str., C. fimbriata, C. humilis, C. merochlorophaea, C. cryptochlorophaea and C. merochlorophaea var. novochlorophaea. Cladonia fimbriata and C. chlorophaea are dominant on the younger, more seaward ridges, whilst C. merochlorophaea becomes important on the older ridges. Cladonia humilis is confined to sandy substrata.