Cladonia floerkeana

Cladonia floerkeana is a species of fruticose lichen in the family Cladoniaceae. The species produces distinctive bright red spore-bearing structures (apothecia) on thin, upright stalks (podetia) that can be variably branched. These stalks may be smooth, rough, or covered in tiny scales. The species was first described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1824 as Cenomyce floerkeana and later transferred to the genus Cladonia by Heinrich Gustav Flörke in 1828. C. floerkeana is closely related to Cladonia macilenta, from which it is distinguished by its lack of soredia and its chemical properties. Commonly known as gritty British soldiers or Bengal match lichen, this species functions as a pioneer organism in nutrient-poor environments. The lichen has a broad but patchy global distribution, occurring across Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, including Australasia. It grows in acidic soils and open habitats such as heathlands, boreal forests, and post-disturbance landscapes,......read more on Wikipedia.