What a neat common name for this lichen - British soldiers (Cladonia cristatella), the redcoats. It's called a cup lichen, a native Northeast species found growing on rocks, bark and soil. It's a mix of an algae (growing on the stalks) and a fungus, from which the Latin name derives.
It's a lovely bright spot in the bleakness of late fall and early winter.
I've read that they're edible, but you'd have to be pretty darn hungry to resort to making a meal of these tiny structures (up to an inch tall)
1 comment:
My favorite.....but what are the pink ones called? I have a ton of pink along with the red.
Post a Comment