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British Soldier lichen

Cladonia cristatella

Description:

ladonia cristatella is a very common and well known lichen, found throughout the northeastern USA into Canada. There are look-alike species throughout most of the world as well. The little red "caps" that resemble the red hats worn by invading British troops during the American Revolutionary war give the lichen its common name of the the "Bristish Soldier Lichen." In reality, the red hats are actually the sexual fruiting structure of the lichen, the apothecia..

Notes:

See the last photo for size comparison with my index finger & photo 3 with a nail head.

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16 Comments

KarenL
KarenL 10 years ago

I'm pleased to join your mission Chester!

chesterbperry
chesterbperry 10 years ago

Lovely sighting Karen, I invite you to join my mission, http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/3823... , and add this and any other lichens you may come across.

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thanks Sachin & Leuba!

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 12 years ago

very interesting and quite lovely ! Thanks Karen

Sachin Zaveri
Sachin Zaveri 12 years ago

Very nicely captured KarenL,,

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thanks Ashish! I've actually changed the photos round now so the one with the nail head is the main image because this one does show just how tiny this is!
Soul searching wind, I hope you are going to post some photos too!

soul soaring wind
soul soaring wind 12 years ago

So glad you put this is up, now I know he type that has been growing on the fence. Great photos.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Love your presentation... Here we learn what can be very small Lichen look like...!!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thanks Melissa!

MelissaFerguson
MelissaFerguson 12 years ago

I have never seen anything like it-really beautiful!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thank you Alice! I'm loving this whole new world that macro is opening up to me!

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Interesting!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thanks Argybee! Apparently it is quite common but this is the first time I've seen it.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 12 years ago

That's excellent KarenL.
I've never seen anything like it.
Very good set.

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Thank you Achmmad!

achmmad
achmmad 12 years ago

First pics show something like Lantana flower. Great spotting!

KarenL
Spotted by
KarenL

Fairview, Tennessee, USA

Spotted on Mar 8, 2012
Submitted on Mar 8, 2012

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