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.
Michael Hough © 2004 |