British Soldier Lichen
ExploreFungi
British Soldier Lichen
Cladonia cristatella
British Soldier Lichen is a tiny plant that looks like a tiny red soldier's hat. It grows on rocks and tree bark in forests and mountain regions.
Habitat: Forests, Mountain regions
Appearance
The British Soldier Lichen has distinctive grey-green, goblet-shaped stalks, often forming dense patches. Each stalk is topped with a vibrant, scarlet-red fruiting body, resembling tiny, bright red caps on miniature pillars. This striking contrast makes it easy to spot against duller backgrounds.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassLecanoromycetesOrderLecanoralesFamilyCladoniaceaeGenusCladonia
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
British Soldier Lichen helps protect the soil from being washed away by rain and wind.
Its bright red tips inspired its name, looking like tiny British army coats!
Some lichens can live for thousands of years, making them super ancient organisms.
This lichen is actually two amazing organisms living together as one team.
Special abilities
Ability
Air Purifier
British Soldier Lichen has a special sensitivity to clean air that helps them thrive only in places with low pollution.
Ability
Pioneer Spirit
British Soldier Lichen can grow on bare ground or rocks, helping to break them down and create new soil for other plants.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 1-5 cm
- Edibility
- inedible
- Growth Substrate
- soil
- Season
- Year-round
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Green Alga
Trebouxia erici
Provides food through photosynthesis
eats
Grey Field Slug
Deroceras reticulatum
Grazes on the lichen's thallus
shelters
Green Springtail
Isotoma viridis
Lives among the lichen's stalks
Traits
Lichen
This trait describes a composite organism resulting from a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, typically an alga or cyanobacterium.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Mountain
This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Soldier Lichen
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Look but don't touch! Let the lichen grow in its natural habitat undisturbed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is British Soldier Lichen?
1-5 cm
Is British Soldier Lichen edible?
inedible
Where is British Soldier Lichen usually found?
Forests, Mountain regions
What does British Soldier Lichen grow on?
soil
When is British Soldier Lichen in season?
Year-round
Snap Map
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