Cladonia

Cladonia is a genus of lichenized fungi 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. Antibiotic compounds are extracted from some species to create antibiotic cream. The light green species Cladonia stellaris is used in flower decorations.

Although the phylogeny of the genus Cladonia is still under investigation, two main morphological groups are commonly differentiated by taxonomists: the Cladonia morpho-type and the Cladina morpho-type. The Cladonia morpho-type has many more species, and is generally described as a group of squamulose (grow from squamules), cup-bearing lichens. The Cladina morpho-types are often referred to as forage lichens, mat-forming lichens, or reindeer lichens (due to their importance as caribou winter forage).

Cladonia perforata ("perforate cladonia") is one of two on the U.S. Endangered Species List, and it should never be collected. It exists only in a few small populations in Florida.

Several Cladonia species grow on sand dunes. The presence, and luxuriant carpet-like growth, of Cladonia species is one of the defining characters of grey dunes, a priority habitat for conservation under the E.U. Habitats Directive.

Larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Chionodes continuella, feed on Cladonia species.

Selected species

Selected species of Cladonia include:

Gallery

• Cladonia apodocarpa
  Cladonia apodocarpa
• Cladonia caespiticia
  Cladonia caespiticia
• Cladonia coniocraea – common powderhorn
  Cladonia coniocraea – common powderhorn
• Cladonia convoluta
  Cladonia convoluta
• Cladonia cristatella – British soldiers
  Cladonia cristatella – British soldiers
• Cladonia macilenta var. bacillaris – lipstick cladonia
  Cladonia macilenta var. bacillaris – lipstick cladonia
• Cladonia macrophyllodes – large-leaved cladonia
  Cladonia macrophyllodes – large-leaved cladonia
• Cladonia grayi complex
  Cladonia grayi complex
• Cladonia parasitica
  Cladonia parasitica
• Cladonia peziziformis
  Cladonia peziziformis
• Cladonia pleurota – red-fruited pixie cup
  Cladonia pleurota – red-fruited pixie cup
• Cladonia subcariosa
  Cladonia subcariosa
• Cladonia subtenuis
  Cladonia subtenuis

References

Anderson, R. (2009). Cladonia peziziformis (With.) J.R. Laundon (Lecanorales: Cladoniaceae) re-discovered in Co. Down. Ir. Nat. J. 30: 146.

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