Southern Soldiers Lichen (Cladonia didyma)

Growing in moss on a hillside.

Red-tipped, minty green lichen with some darkening of the podetia. The podetia are 10-30mm long with red caps called apothecia--which are spore-bearing structures. The Cladonia genus is comprised of moss-like cup lichens. Lichens are composite organisms comprised of a fungus being inhabited by algae or cyanobacteria. According to NatureServe Explorer, Cladonia didyma's national status is N1 (critically imperiled).