Cladonia foliacea

Description:

Cladonia foliacea is a lichen that is often found together with mosses covering thin soils. It is lobbed and foliaceus with the upper surface green and the under surface white. In wet weather it is extended and green but in dry weather it folds showing its underface and it becomes fragil. It easily loses its grip due to the wind or passers by and it becomes an errant lichen.

Habitat:

Often found on the ground with mosses and fallen leaves. This one was on siliceous soil, with different mosses and Holm oak leaves

Notes:

Cladonia foliacea extracts are investigated because of their good antimicrobial activity: Z Naturforsch C. 2004 Mar-Apr;59(3-4):249-54.