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. The red caps are apothecia—spore-producing bodes. These lichens are widespread through eastern North America.

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:

Stephen Sharnoff Photography

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

The Island Creek Elementary School's Study of Northern Virginia Ecology

The Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria

The University of British Columbia Botanical Garden Center for Plant Research

Wikimedia Commons

References:

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

5/7/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

5/7/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

5/7/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

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)

4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4 × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

Cladonia cristatella description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 4 Aug 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4½ × 3½" (11 × 8.7 cm)

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

5/4/2023 · Tarbox Preserve, Topsham, Maine

4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 8.7 cm)

3/10/1985 · Dunstable, Mass­a­chu­setts

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

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

Range:

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