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piedmont cup lichen
Scientific Name: Cladonia piedmontensis
Family: Cladoniaceae
Category: Lichen
Growth: Lichenous
Duration:
Other Names:
Piedmont Cup Lichen
Explore the fascinating world of the Piedmont Cup Lichen, a unique lichen species found in specific regions.
Scientific Name and Common Names
- Scientific Name: Cladonia piedmontensis G. Merr.
- Common Name: Piedmont Cup Lichen
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Fungi
- Phylum: Ascomycota
- Class: Lecanoromycetes
- Order: Not specified in provided text.
- Family: Cladoniaceae
- Rank: Species
- Synonyms: Piedmont Cladonia
Distribution and Habitat
- The Piedmont Cup Lichen can be found in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
- It has been observed at elevations up to 220 ft above the Piedmont Plateau granite outcrops in Chilton and Randolf Counties.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- The Piedmont Cup Lichen is a foliose (leaf-like) lichen.
- It exhibits a gray-green color.
- It grows closely attached to trees (corticolous).
- It features large cup-like fruiting bodies called apothecia.
Ecological Role
- Lichens in the Cladonia genus serve as a primary food source for reindeer and caribou.
- Some spiders incorporate lichens into their webs, using them for camouflage and structural support.
Quirky Facts
- Some people have experimented with using crushed reindeer lichen (related to the Piedmont Cup Lichen) as a substitute for flour in chocolate chip cookies.
Further Information
- North American Lichen Checklist
- MycoBank