# Cladonia Cladonia is a type of lichen that grows on rocks and trees. It looks like tiny cups or tubes and comes in different colors like green, gray, or brown. - **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Caribou Lichen ![Cladonia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/CladoniaSpec01.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CladoniaSpec01.jpg) ## Appearance The Cladonia is a diverse group of lichens, often featuring intricate, branched structures resembling tiny trees, cups, or coral. They typically display shades of grey-green or whitish, sometimes adorned with bright red tips on their 'fruiting' bodies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Fungi - **Phylum:** Ascomycota - **Class:** Lecanoromycetes - **Order:** Lecanorales - **Family:** Cladoniaceae - **Genus:** Cladonia ## Interesting facts - Did you know Cladonia are actually two organisms, a fungus and algae, living as one super team? Wow! - Many Cladonia look like tiny delicate goblets or little miniature shrub forests. Wow! - Some Cladonia species are vital food for caribou and reindeer in frosty Arctic lands. Wow! - They can help turn bare rock into soil, paving the way for other plants to grow. Wow! ## Special abilities - **Pioneer Power:** Cladonia can grow on bare rock or soil because of its hardy nature that helps them start new ecosystems. - **Survival Expert:** Cladonia has a unique ability to dry out completely and rehydrate that helps them survive extreme temperatures and drought. - **Air Quality Alarm:** Cladonia can absorb air pollutants from the atmosphere that helps them act as natural indicators of air quality. - **Chemical Creator:** Cladonia produces special chemicals that help protect them from herbivores and sun, and can even deter other plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1-15 cm - **Edible:** inedible - **Growth Substrate:** soil - **Season:** Year-round - **Spore Color:** White ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — A primary winter food source for Arctic reindeer. - **Parasitizes:** lichenicolous fungus (*Stigmidium cladoniicola*) — This tiny fungus grows directly on and harms Cladonia species. - **Depends on:** lichen beetle (*Nephilodes cladoniaria*) — Its larvae feed specifically on Cladonia and related lichens. ## Traits - [Lichen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at Cladonia in nature but avoid touching or picking it to let it grow undisturbed. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cladonia? Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cladonia? 1-15 cm ### Is Cladonia edible? inedible ### Where is Cladonia usually found? Mountain regions ### What does Cladonia grow on? soil ### When is Cladonia in season? Year-round ### What color are Cladonia spores? White ## Where to spot - [Denton Hill State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/denton-hill-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Kootenay Lake Provincial Park - Midge Creek Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kootenay-lake-provincial-park-midge-creek-site) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Nickel Plate Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nickel-plate-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Cladonia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cladonia) ## More Fungi - [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*) --- Source: [Cladonia: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cladonia)