Dune Cup Lichen
ExploreFungi
Dune Cup Lichen
cladonia prostrata
The Dune Cup Lichen looks like tiny green cups sprinkled across the sandy ground! It helps keep the environment healthy by breaking down rocks and adding nutrients to the soil.
Habitat: Coastal sandy areas and dunes.
Appearance
The Dune Cup Lichen has a distinctive greyish-green to brownish-green appearance, often forming small, cup-shaped or branched structures. It typically grows low to the ground, creating a textured, crust-like or shrubby mat on sandy surfaces.
KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassLecanoromycetesOrderLecanoralesFamilyCladoniaceaeGenusCladonia
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Arctic reindeer eat lots of lichen to stay healthy during winter!
Lichens are like tiny weather stations, super sensitive to clean or dirty air.
Some lichens grow so slowly, they can be hundreds of years old!
They are nature's tiny pioneers, helping break down rocks to make new soil.
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Survivor
Dune Cup Lichen can completely dry out and go dormant, then reawaken when rain returns, allowing it to survive harsh droughts.
Ability
Air Harvester
Dune Cup Lichen has no roots! It can absorb all its water and nutrients directly from the air and rain.
Ability
Symbiotic Superpower
Dune Cup Lichen is a team of fungus and algae living together, where the fungus provides shelter and the algae makes food.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 1-5 cm
- Spread
- 5-20 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Green Alga
Trebouxia erici
provides food through photosynthesis
eaten by
Black Slug
Arion ater
grazes on its surface
shelters
Green Springtail
Isotoma viridis
lives within its tiny branches
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Coastal LichenGreen Cup LichenSand Cup Lichen
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Dune Cup Lichen?
1-5 cm
How wide does Dune Cup Lichen spread?
5-20 cm
Is Dune Cup Lichen edible?
No
Is Dune Cup Lichen toxic?
None
What is Dune Cup Lichen's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Dune Cup Lichen usually found?
Coastal sandy areas and dunes.
Snap Map
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