Green Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia arbuscula mitis

Cladonia (cup lichen) is a genus of moss-like lichens in the family Cladoniaceae. They are the primary food source for reindeer/caribou. Cladonia species are of economic importance to reindeer-herders, such as the Sami in Scandinavia or the Nenets in Russia.
Green Reindeer Lichen There are three types in Canada and this is the Green Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia arbuscula mitis) Alleyn-et-Cawood, Quebec, Canada. Alleyn-et-Cawood,Canada,Cladonia arbuscula mitis,Geotagged,Green Reindeer Lichen,Quebec,Summer

Appearance

Differs from Cladonia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula by its aspect, slightly spindlier, branches thinner and shorter, orientation of terminal branches less uniform, and its colour pale greyish and chemical spot tests: C-, K-, KC+ yellow, Pd- or occasionnally redish. On soil of acid dunes or sand on the seashore, but also inland. Intermediate specimen between Cladonia arbuscula subsp. arbuscula and Cladonia arbuscula subsp. squarrosa exist. This taxon is also very similar to Cladonia mediterranea.

Naming

(Sandst.) Ruoss.

Distribution

North America, Europe

Status

T5 Secure Subspecies

Habitat

On soil of acid dunes or sand on the seashore, but also inland.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.126649/Cladonia_arbuscula_ssp_mitis
Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionAscomycota
ClassLecanoromycetes
OrderLecanorales
FamilyCladoniaceae
GenusCladonia
SpeciesCladonia arbuscula mitis
Photographed in
Canada