British Soldiers

(Cladonia cristatella)

Conservation Status
British Soldiers
Photo by Crystal Boyd
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  The large size, gray, branching stalks, and red caps make this possibly the most recognized species of lichen in North America.  
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Substrate

 
 

Ground

 
     
 

Growth Form

 
 

Fruticose

 
     
 

Habitat

 
 

Wet to dry. Low light to 90% ambient light. Pollution tolerant.

 
     
 

Hosts

 
 

Decaying wood, leafy debris, soil, mossy logs, tree bases, and stumps.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 24, 29, 30, 77.

 
  3/21/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Widespread and common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Fungi (fungi including lichens)  
  Subkingdom Dikarya  
  Phylum Ascomycota (sac fungi)  
  Subphylum Pezizomycotina  
  Class Lecanoromycetes (common lichens)  
  Subclass Lecanoromycetidae (shield lichens, sunburst lichens, rosette lichens, and allies)  
 

Order

Lecanorales (shield lichens, rim lichens, and allies)  
 

Suborder

Lecanorineae  
 

Family

Cladoniaceae (spindles and structured lichens)  
 

Genus

Cladonia (pixie cup lichens)  
  Mycobiont Cladonia cristatella  
  Photobiont Trebouxia erici  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

British Soldier Lichen

British Soldiers

Scarlet-crested Cladonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Nancy Falkum

 
    British Soldiers      
 

Dustin Hancock

 
    British Soldiers   British Soldiers  
           
    British Soldiers      
 

Bill Reynolds

 
    British Soldiers      
 

Crystal Boyd

 
    British Soldiers      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    British Soldiers      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
British Soldier Lichen
Andree Reno Sanborn
  British Soldier Lichen  
 
About

Cladonia cristatella

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this fungus.

 
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Other Videos
 
  British soldier lichen - Random Nature 5
Nature, Here and Now! - Chris Egnoto
 
   
 
About

Jun 14, 2020

#lichen #brittishsoldierlichen #redcoatlichen Lichens have always fascinated me. One of my favorite species is one you have likely seen before. It is Brittish soldier lichen (Cladonia cristatella), also known as Redcoats lichen. These, like all lichen, are a partenership between algae and fungus. This is just a teaser for one of my future videos.

 
  Лишайник. British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristatella)
Olexia &Pankivka,USA .
 
   
 
About

Nov 9, 2019

#Лишайник. #British_Soldier_Lichen #Cladonia_cristatella #Pankivka. #Parrottsville #tennessee

#Паньківка. #Парроттсвіль. #Теннессі #життявсша #життя_в_Америці

 
  (Cladonia cristatella) British soldier lichen, Red soldier lichen.
Anangke
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 11, 2013

I saw these and thought they were so vivid and pretty. Sorry the video was shaky. It's the best I can do. I even used a mono-pod.

Cladonia cristatella, British soldier lichen, Red tipped Lichen, lichen, fruticose lichen,

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this fungus.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Nancy Falkum
3/20/2022

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

British Soldiers  
  Dustin Hancock
10/12/2017

Location: Uncas Dunes SNA

British Soldiers  
  Crystal Boyd
6/9/2013

Location: Uncas Dunes SNA

British Soldiers  
  Bill Reynolds
8/1/2009

Location: Jack Pine forest - Lake County MN

British Soldiers  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 10/14/2017

Last Updated:

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