Cladonia cristatella Tuck. - British Soldier Lichen


 

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Cladonia cristatella - (image 1 of 2)

 

Taxonomy

Phyllum: Ascomycota

 

Family: Cladoniaceae

Habitat

 

Associates

 

Distribution

 

Morphology

Fruticose lichen with bright red spore-bearing structures. 

Notes

A symbiosis between a fungi (C. cristatella) and an alga. The lichen gets its name from the fungus in the relationship.

A related species, C. rangiferina (Reindeer Moss) is commonly found in sandy pine barrens and on alpine sites. It is also common in boreal forests.

 

    

Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina)

 

References

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov).

National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

 


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 Michael Hough © 2004