No images found for this plant ID: 10736.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "10736" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
cup lichen
Scientific Name: Cladonia coniocraea
Family: Cladoniaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Pixie Cup Lichen (Cladonia spp.)
Lichens of the genus Cladonia, commonly known as cup lichens or pixie cup lichens, are fascinating organisms often overlooked despite their ecological significance and unique morphology. These lichens are a symbiotic partnership between algae and fungus, creating a self-sufficient entity capable of thriving in diverse environments.
Considerations for Pets and Children
- Small Parts: Pixie cup lichens have small, cup-like structures that could be a potential choking hazard for small children or pets if ingested.
- Traditional Uses: Historically, some Cladonia species have been boiled with milk or syrup for medicinal purposes, suggesting the presence of bioactive compounds. While not explicitly toxic, ingestion may have unforeseen effects.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cladonia (genus)
- Common Names: Cup lichen, Pixie cup lichen
- Family: Cladoniaceae
Several species of Cladonia are mentioned, including Cladonia asahinae, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia chlorophaea, Cladonia coccifera, Cladonia fimbriata, Cladonia borealis, Cladonia cristatella, Cladonia pityrea, Cladonia monomorpha, Cladonia pocillum, Cladonia bellidiflora, and Cladonia macilenta.
Distribution and Habitat
- Cladonia species are often found on the forest floor, typically on logs or at the base of trees.
- They thrive in exposed subalpine sites, growing on poor soils and fallen logs.
- They are also found on rock outcrops and Devonian Red Sandstone boulders.
- Boreal lichens are also common in boreal forests.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Cladonia lichens are moss-like in appearance.
- They feature upright fruiting stalks.
- They exhibit podetia (stalk-like structures) that can be funnel-shaped or cup-shaped, sometimes described as resembling "Shrek's Ears" or miniature golf tees.
- The cups can be small, approximately 1/2 inch high.
- Some species have podetia tapering gradually towards the base, with the exterior variably clothed with corticate granules.
- Soredia (small propagules for asexual reproduction) can be abundant and farinose (powdery).
- Some species have red apothecia (fruiting bodies).
- They also have hollow, cup-like growths, with the cups unbranched, round-toothed, and curled.
Ecological Role
- Cladonia species are a primary food source for reindeer and caribou.
Quirky Facts
- Some describe the appearance of Cladonia as resembling a "sprinkling of light-grey-green pixie dust."
- Historically, some Cladonia species, when boiled with milk or syrup, have been used as a remedy for whooping cough and chest ailments.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Cladonia species often grow on moss, particularly Chorisodontium.
- They can be found growing in lichen colonies with other species, such as Cladonia macilenta.