British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristatella)

Detailed information for an alpine or subalpine species recorded along Howker Ridge Trail. Use the back link to return to the catalog.

Short Description

British Soldier Lichen is perhaps the most eye-catching lichen in our forests due to its striking color contrast. It forms small colonies of upright, branched **pale green stalks (podetia) topped with vivid red caps** – the red being the lichen’s spore-producing structures (apothecia). The whole lichen stands only about 0.5–1 inch tall, but the neon red dots on the tips are visible against the subdued tones of logs and moss. On Howker Ridge Trail, you might spot these on decaying wood or soil at trail edges, especially in a spot with a bit of sun filtering through. The main body of the lichen (the podetia) is green-gray and can be somewhat irregular, sometimes branching like a tiny coral or shrub. The surface of the stalks is roughened with a dusting of soredia and tiny scales. At the tip of each branch, when mature, sits a scarlet red cup or knob – these red parts are what gave the lichen its common name, as they reminded observers of the red coats worn by British soldiers in the Revolutionary War. A patch of British Soldier Lichen looks almost like a cluster of matchsticks, green stems with red heads. They often grow amidst other lichens and mosses on an old stump. In one provided photo, for example, you can see their red caps poking above a bed of emerald moss. Because lichens are a symbiosis of fungus and algae, the greenish tinge of the stalks is due to the algae within, which perform photosynthesis. Touching the lichen is generally dry and brittle, and the red caps can rub off, leaving a stain. British Soldier Lichen doesn’t have roots – it anchors superficially. It tends to grow in places that are a bit sheltered from direct rain and wind (e.g., the side of a log), as it likes some protection. The brilliance of the red is especially apparent in winter or early spring, when the forest colors are dull – little red specks stand out on the brown background.

TYPE

Lichen

ELEVATION

0–2,500 ft

HABITAT

Old stumps, logs, and acidic soils in open woods or clearings; often found in mossy, partly sunny forest floor locations

BLOOM / SEASON

Non-flowering (lichen; reproduces via spores year-round, red apothecia visible)

LEAF & STEM

A fruticose lichen forming erect, cylindrical to somewhat branched stalks (podetia) up to about 10–15 mm tall. The podetia are grayish to greenish and have a granular surface with tiny flake-like areoles. They may branch irregularly or stand unbranched with a single tip. Atop many of the podetia, **bright red apothecia** are present as round, knob-like discs or caps (1–3 mm across). Some tips have one red cap; others can have 2–3 clustered, giving a candelabra look. If no apothecium is present, the tip may be pointed or cup-like, but Cladonia cristatella often shows red on most mature stalks – in fact, it commonly sports an apothecium on nearly every branch. The base of the lichen consists of a crusty or squamulose primary thallus (similar to pixie-cup lichen’s base) that is usually not as noticeable once the podetia grow. The tissue of the podetia is solid (not hollow like some pixie-cups) and has an inner cottony white medulla. The red apothecia are the fruiting bodies where the fungal partner produces spores. These spores (by themselves) can disperse, but without the algae, they must land near a suitable algal partner to form a new lichen, which is a rare event – hence British Soldier mainly spreads by fragments or soredia containing both partners. The overall shape of a colony is a tuft or scattered cluster of these green-gray stems with red dots. It often co-occurs with other Cladonia species, but its red caps set it apart. Under magnification, one can see tiny cup-like hollows in the red apothecia where spores are released. The name “cristatella” means crested, referring to these tufted red caps on the crest of the stalk. This lichen’s structure is relatively delicate – the red tops can be knocked off and the stalks broken by a careless hand or foot.

SIMILAR SPECIES

The defining feature of British Soldier Lichen is its red apothecia on green-gray stalks. A few other lichens have similar red fruiting bodies: **Cladonia floerkeana** (often called the *Soldier Lichen* as well in Europe) has red caps but typically on slender, more consistently cup-tipped stalks, and is less common in our area. **Cladonia coccifera** (Red-fruited Pixie Cup) has red apothecia but perched on cup-shaped podetia. Many of these are hard to tell apart without close examination, but generally C. cristatella in our region is characterized by not having large cups, just branching stalks with red dots. **Pixie-cup Lichens** (Cladonia pyxidata complex) have no red – only green-gray cups (discussed above). **Wolf’s Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum)**, a slime mold, sometimes produces pinkish-red blobs on logs that might superficially catch the eye, but those are spherical pink/orange blobs of goo, not on stalks and not connected to a lichen body. It’s unlikely to confuse British Soldiers with anything else if one notes the combination of upright lichen and red tips. People sometimes mistake them for tiny “flowers” or “berries” on moss to the naked eye, but they are neither – the red is part of the lichen itself. Because British Soldier often grows intermingled with other lichens, one might see pale gray Cladonia and assume the red belongs to them. However, on careful inspection you see the red tops are attached to the same stalks – confirming it’s a Cladonia with red apothecia. So, in summary: any small cup-less lichen with red tips in Eastern forests is likely this species. The common name gets plural “lichens” because they often appear in groups, like a squad of soldiers. In fact, one stump can host hundreds of these little red-capped figures, making a truly distinctive scene.

ECOLOGY

British Soldier Lichen shares a similar ecological role with other reindeer and Cladonia lichens but in more mesic, sheltered microhabitats. It typically grows where it has partial protection – e.g., the side of a decaying log facing away from prevailing winds, or at the base of a tree – which suggests it doesn’t thrive in extreme exposure. By growing on decaying wood and soil, it contributes to **decomposition** and soil formation. Like pixie-cups, it secretes lichen acids that break down wood fibers and even mineral particles. It also competes with mosses: sometimes you’ll see it poking out of a moss carpet; it benefits if the moss is low-growing so that it can still get sun on its algae. Lichens including British Soldiers are pioneers on bare, poor substrates – they can colonize nutrient-poor sand or rotting stumps where vascular plants struggle. They absorb everything they need from rain, fog, and dust (which includes nutrients like nitrogen or calcium in minute amounts). One interesting aspect is their sensitivity to air quality: Cladonia cristatella will die off if air pollution (sulfur dioxide, ozone, heavy metals) is too high, making it an indicator species for clean, unpolluted forests, much like many lichens. In terms of food web, few animals eat British Soldier Lichen because of the acids and low nutritional value, though some species of snails have been recorded feeding on Cladonia. The lichen’s presence does offer a tiny vantage or display ground for micro-fauna; for example, certain springtails might use lichen stalks as perches to launch themselves. Also, hummingbirds and some songbirds have been known to incorporate lichens into their nests as camouflage or binding material – they prefer filamentous lichens (like old man’s beard), but occasionally tufted lichens may be picked off and used. It’s not documented specifically for this species, but any lichen on a branch could become nest decor. British Soldiers reproduce a lot by spores (as evidenced by many apothecia), but since those spores need to find algae, the more reliable reproduction is when a chunk breaks off containing both partners. Heavy rain or animals brushing against it can fragment the lichen and scatter pieces which can re-establish elsewhere. Over decades, British Soldier Lichen can colonize a series of stumps in a clearing, flourish, and then as those stumps fully rot and are overgrown by shrubs, the lichen’s cycle ends in that spot – it is outcompeted and shaded out by higher plants. However, in a healthy mosaic of forest gaps, there will always be new logs and soil patches opening up for it to colonize, maintaining its presence in the ecosystem. As such, it plays a dynamic role in forest regeneration: one of the first to adorn a fresh log or soil mound, making the most of the gap until bigger life-forms take over. Its bright red tops might even serve as a visual lure for some insects (certain red aphids or mites might be drawn to them, for instance), but more research would be needed. At the very least, they serve as a delightful visual for human observers, adding aesthetic value to the forest floor – which in a broad sense fosters human appreciation for conserving such habitats.

STATUS

British Soldier Lichen is **common and secure** in its range (eastern North America). It has no special conservation status – indeed, it’s often one of the first lichens people learn because of its abundance and bright color. In the White Mountains, it can be found from valley forests up into subalpine zones anywhere decaying wood and partial sunlight coincide. It’s not rare or declining; on the contrary, whenever new wood is made available (from storms, logging, die-off), these lichens tend to colonize if conditions suit. They may take a couple of years to show up on a fresh stump (first the base crust forms, then podetia grow and red caps appear), but within a decade or so after a tree falls, you often see them. Their presence can diminish in later stages of decay as mosses and higher plants cover the substrate, but regionally there’s always new habitat cropping up. Air pollution is a broad factor – historically, heavily industrialized regions saw declines in colorful Cladonia lichens. In the relatively clean air of northern New England, that’s not a problem. Climate change isn’t expected to directly harm this species; it tolerates a range of temperatures. Possibly, more intense precipitation patterns could physically wash away delicate lichen colonies or more frequent droughts could stress them. However, Cladonia cristatella is quite resilient in bouncing back after unfavorable spells; it essentially waits in a dormant state during drought and resumes growth in moisture. There is no commercial harvest of this lichen (sometimes hobbyists collect a bit for terrariums or school projects due to its cute appearance, but that’s negligible). In some protected natural areas, one might caution not to pick or trample lichens so they remain for others to enjoy and for their ecological roles, but overall British Soldier is not at risk. It benefits from general forest conservation – as long as there are undisturbed or semi-disturbed woods, this lichen will have its niche. Thus, the outlook for British Soldier Lichen is bright (as bright as its apothecia): it remains a secure, flourishing species – a little soldier holding the fort in our forests, so to speak. Its only “enemies” are large-scale environmental degradation, which currently are kept at bay in the well-protected White Mountain landscapes.

Field Notes

A fruticose lichen forming erect, cylindrical to somewhat branched stalks (podetia) up to about 10–15 mm tall. The podetia are grayish to greenish and have a granular surface with tiny flake-like areoles. They may branch irregularly or stand unbranched with a single tip. Atop many of the podetia, **bright red apothecia** are present as round, knob-like discs or caps (1–3 mm across). Some tips have one red cap; others can have 2–3 clustered, giving a candelabra look. If no apothecium is present, the tip may be pointed or cup-like, but Cladonia cristatella often shows red on most mature stalks – in fact, it commonly sports an apothecium on nearly every branch. The base of the lichen consists of a crusty or squamulose primary thallus (similar to pixie-cup lichen’s base) that is usually not as noticeable once the podetia grow. The tissue of the podetia is solid (not hollow like some pixie-cups) and has an inner cottony white medulla. The red apothecia are the fruiting bodies where the fungal partner produces spores. These spores (by themselves) can disperse, but without the algae, they must land near a suitable algal partner to form a new lichen, which is a rare event – hence British Soldier mainly spreads by fragments or soredia containing both partners. The overall shape of a colony is a tuft or scattered cluster of these green-gray stems with red dots. It often co-occurs with other Cladonia species, but its red caps set it apart. Under magnification, one can see tiny cup-like hollows in the red apothecia where spores are released. The name “cristatella” means crested, referring to these tufted red caps on the crest of the stalk. This lichen’s structure is relatively delicate – the red tops can be knocked off and the stalks broken by a careless hand or foot.
British Soldier Lichen shares a similar ecological role with other reindeer and Cladonia lichens but in more mesic, sheltered microhabitats. It typically grows where it has partial protection – e.g., the side of a decaying log facing away from prevailing winds, or at the base of a tree – which suggests it doesn’t thrive in extreme exposure. By growing on decaying wood and soil, it contributes to **decomposition** and soil formation. Like pixie-cups, it secretes lichen acids that break down wood fibers and even mineral particles. It also competes with mosses: sometimes you’ll see it poking out of a moss carpet; it benefits if the moss is low-growing so that it can still get sun on its algae. Lichens including British Soldiers are pioneers on bare, poor substrates – they can colonize nutrient-poor sand or rotting stumps where vascular plants struggle. They absorb everything they need from rain, fog, and dust (which includes nutrients like nitrogen or calcium in minute amounts). One interesting aspect is their sensitivity to air quality: Cladonia cristatella will die off if air pollution (sulfur dioxide, ozone, heavy metals) is too high, making it an indicator species for clean, unpolluted forests, much like many lichens. In terms of food web, few animals eat British Soldier Lichen because of the acids and low nutritional value, though some species of snails have been recorded feeding on Cladonia. The lichen’s presence does offer a tiny vantage or display ground for micro-fauna; for example, certain springtails might use lichen stalks as perches to launch themselves. Also, hummingbirds and some songbirds have been known to incorporate lichens into their nests as camouflage or binding material – they prefer filamentous lichens (like old man’s beard), but occasionally tufted lichens may be picked off and used. It’s not documented specifically for this species, but any lichen on a branch could become nest decor. British Soldiers reproduce a lot by spores (as evidenced by many apothecia), but since those spores need to find algae, the more reliable reproduction is when a chunk breaks off containing both partners. Heavy rain or animals brushing against it can fragment the lichen and scatter pieces which can re-establish elsewhere. Over decades, British Soldier Lichen can colonize a series of stumps in a clearing, flourish, and then as those stumps fully rot and are overgrown by shrubs, the lichen’s cycle ends in that spot – it is outcompeted and shaded out by higher plants. However, in a healthy mosaic of forest gaps, there will always be new logs and soil patches opening up for it to colonize, maintaining its presence in the ecosystem. As such, it plays a dynamic role in forest regeneration: one of the first to adorn a fresh log or soil mound, making the most of the gap until bigger life-forms take over. Its bright red tops might even serve as a visual lure for some insects (certain red aphids or mites might be drawn to them, for instance), but more research would be needed. At the very least, they serve as a delightful visual for human observers, adding aesthetic value to the forest floor – which in a broad sense fosters human appreciation for conserving such habitats.
British Soldier Lichen is **common and secure** in its range (eastern North America). It has no special conservation status – indeed, it’s often one of the first lichens people learn because of its abundance and bright color. In the White Mountains, it can be found from valley forests up into subalpine zones anywhere decaying wood and partial sunlight coincide. It’s not rare or declining; on the contrary, whenever new wood is made available (from storms, logging, die-off), these lichens tend to colonize if conditions suit. They may take a couple of years to show up on a fresh stump (first the base crust forms, then podetia grow and red caps appear), but within a decade or so after a tree falls, you often see them. Their presence can diminish in later stages of decay as mosses and higher plants cover the substrate, but regionally there’s always new habitat cropping up. Air pollution is a broad factor – historically, heavily industrialized regions saw declines in colorful Cladonia lichens. In the relatively clean air of northern New England, that’s not a problem. Climate change isn’t expected to directly harm this species; it tolerates a range of temperatures. Possibly, more intense precipitation patterns could physically wash away delicate lichen colonies or more frequent droughts could stress them. However, Cladonia cristatella is quite resilient in bouncing back after unfavorable spells; it essentially waits in a dormant state during drought and resumes growth in moisture. There is no commercial harvest of this lichen (sometimes hobbyists collect a bit for terrariums or school projects due to its cute appearance, but that’s negligible). In some protected natural areas, one might caution not to pick or trample lichens so they remain for others to enjoy and for their ecological roles, but overall British Soldier is not at risk. It benefits from general forest conservation – as long as there are undisturbed or semi-disturbed woods, this lichen will have its niche. Thus, the outlook for British Soldier Lichen is bright (as bright as its apothecia): it remains a secure, flourishing species – a little soldier holding the fort in our forests, so to speak. Its only “enemies” are large-scale environmental degradation, which currently are kept at bay in the well-protected White Mountain landscapes.

Howker Ridge • Plant