Nature What is this ?

Reindeer lichen · 05:18 PM

Out walking in the woods and took this photo.
What is it ?

Clarence

SSGGeezer · 09-12-2017, 05:38 PM

It appears to be a lichen of some sort, pretty cool looking, was it attached to the dead wood underneath it?

**c.perkins** · 09-12-2017, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

It appears to be a lichen of some sort, pretty cool looking, was it attached to the dead wood underneath it?

Yes it was growing out/from it.

Clarence

CreationBear · 09-12-2017, 05:47 PM

I'm not good on my mosses/lichens, but I'm thinking that might be reindeer moss (actually a lichen)--a neat looking plant, at any rate.

RobG · 09-12-2017, 08:30 PM

Cool image! It does look like a lichen. Around where I live, they are usually on living trees or rocks, rather than dead wood on the ground. It looks too complex for a coral fungus and too high for a slime mould.

pete-tarmigan · 09-13-2017, 09:57 AM

I agree that it's the lichen species called reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina). It's the staple food of reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus).

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09-12-2017, 05:38 PM	#2
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	It appears to be a lichen of some sort, pretty cool looking, was it attached to the dead wood underneath it?

09-12-2017, 05:42 PM	#3
c.perkins Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New Lisbon, WI. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 515 Original Poster	Originally posted by SSGGeezer It appears to be a lichen of some sort, pretty cool looking, was it attached to the dead wood underneath it? Yes it was growing out/from it. Clarence

09-12-2017, 05:47 PM	#4
CreationBear Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,415	I'm not good on my mosses/lichens, but I'm thinking that might be reindeer moss (actually a lichen)--a neat looking plant, at any rate.

09-12-2017, 08:30 PM	#5
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,891	Cool image! It does look like a lichen. Around where I live, they are usually on living trees or rocks, rather than dead wood on the ground. It looks too complex for a coral fungus and too high for a slime mould.

09-13-2017, 09:57 AM	#6
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	I agree that it's the lichen species called reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina). It's the staple food of reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus).