Cladonia cristatella Tuck.

British soldiers, cup lichen, British Soliders

About plant names...

British soldier lichen, with its brilliant red caps, is named for the army of British “redcoats” who invaded colonial America. Take a look at this photo, which won Botany Photo of the Day. The red caps create the spores.

Identification: These lichens are fruticose, which simply means that they look like tiny shrubs. They are less than 1" (2.5 cm) high, and are found on disturbed ground (for example, along areas cleared for high tension power lines) or on decaying wood. I often see moss nearby. Lipstick powderhorn (Cladonia macilenta) and red-fruited pixie cups (Cladonia pleurota) also have red tops, the former are tall and narrow and the latter are goblet-shaped.

Online References:

Cladonia cristatella on Stephen Sharnoff Photography

Cladonia cristatella on Tom Volk's Fungi site, at the Department of Biology at the University of Wisconsin

Cladonia cristatella on islandcreekes.fcps.edu

Cladonia cristatella on botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Cladonia cristatella on Wikimedia Commons

References:

Walewski, Joe, Lichens of the North Woods, Kollath+Stensaas Publishing, 2007, p. 44

6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3" (9 × 8.5 cm)

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3" (8.7 × 7.8 cm)

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 8.9 cm)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 3" (7.4 × 8.3 cm)

11/28/2020 · Otter Brook, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine

8/16/2014 · Arethusa Falls, White Mountains, New Hamp­shire
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 10 cm)

Cladonia cristatella description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

3/10/1985 · Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

8/28/2020 · Jack’s and Litchfield Trails, Chase Reserve, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (14 × 10 cm)

4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 2½" (7.4 × 6.6 cm)

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 3½" (10 × 9.3 cm)

5/11/2013 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 3½" (8.7 × 8.8 cm)

4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm)

3/10/1985 · Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 4½" (10 × 11 cm)

Range:

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