Short Description
Reindeer Lichen is the bleach-gray, coral-like lichen crunching underfoot on many exposed ridges. In the Presidential Range alpine, it forms extensive mats on windswept, rocky ground, often alongside other cushion plants and sedges. The lichen’s growth is shrubby and intricate: a tufted thicket of branching, brittle stems only a few inches tall. It thrives in well-drained, sandy or rocky soils where little else can grow. When moist, it becomes soft and pliable, even a bit springy; when dry, it turns crisp and can crumble under a boot. Reindeer Lichen is extremely cold-hardy – a true Arctic-Alpine survivor – and in northern boreal regions it’s a crucial winter forage for caribou (hence the name). Hikers in the White Mountains will see its ghostly mats decorating alpine ledges, talus fields, and open spruce-fir woods with a subtle frosty hue.
TYPE
Lichen
ELEVATION
2,000–6,000 ft (and lower in open forests)
HABITAT
Open, well-drained areas on rock or thin soil; alpine tundra, subalpine ledges, and pine barrens
BLOOM / SEASON
Non-flowering (lichen; reproduces via fragmentation or spores year-round)
LEAF & STEM
Not a plant but a symbiotic amalgam of fungus and algae, this lichen has a distinctive appearance. It consists of many whitish-gray branching stalks (the lichen’s thallus) that stand upright 1–4 inches high. Each branch repeatedly forks into three or four segments, creating a bushy, finely divided structure like minuscule antlers. There are no leaves or obvious fruiting bodies as seen on plants; the surface is matte and can be slightly greenish or brownish in parts. Under magnification, you’d see no true outer cortex on the branches – just a tangle of fungal threads wrapped around algal cells. The lichen does not produce showy cups or visible spores in the field; it primarily spreads when pieces break off and reattach (a form of clonal reproduction). When wet, the clump darkens a bit and feels spongy; when dry, it is pale, almost white, and easily crushes (hence very susceptible to boot damage).
SIMILAR SPECIES
Several other gray-white Cladonia lichens share its habitat. One in particular, Cladonia portentosa, is often intermingled and also called “reindeer lichen.” These can be hard to tell apart without close examination; generally, C. rangiferina has slightly thicker branches at more acute angles. In the field guide context, both are ecologically similar. Iceland Moss (actually a lichen, Cetraria islandica) may grow nearby; it’s darker and more foliose (leafy flakes) rather than shrub-like. “Deer moss” is another colloquial name used for the same Cladonia group. No true moss or vascular plant looks like these reindeer lichens. Their dry, crunchy, bushy mats on open ground are unique – just avoid confusing them with patches of gray dead moss or shrub fragments. The living lichen often has a subtle greenish cast when hydrated.
ECOLOGY
Reindeer Lichen is a pioneer species in harsh, barren landscapes. It can colonize bare rock or mineral soil, secreting acids that slowly help break down rock into soil – thus facilitating later plant succession. It has no roots; it absorbs water and nutrients from rain and air across its surface, which means it’s very sensitive to air quality (sulfates or smog can kill it). In alpine and subalpine zones, its mats help retain a bit of moisture and reduce erosion by covering soil. It grows extremely slowly (only a few millimeters per year) and can take decades to recover after disturbance. This lichen provides critical winter food for caribou/reindeer in subarctic regions, though in NH the woodland caribou are long gone. Still, micro-fauna like insects or spiders may use its tangle for shelter, and birds sometimes pick lichen for nest lining. Its presence on White Mountain summits links these peaks to far northern tundra ecosystems. Because it is so slow-growing, trampling by hikers can eliminate it from heavily used alpine trail edges – hence the importance of walking carefully on rocks where possible. Globally, Cladonia rangiferina is common (NatureServe “Secure”), but locally it benefits from alpine zone conservation efforts.
STATUS
Not rare – in fact quite common in alpine and barren habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. In the White Mountains it forms an integral part of the alpine community and lower-elevation pine barrens. It has no special protection status, though it is indirectly protected as part of conserved natural communities. The main concern is its vulnerability to damage: a footprint can crush centuries of growth. Therefore, land managers emphasize Leave No Trace principles in lichen-rich areas. Air pollution historically reduced lichen abundance in some industrial regions; relatively clean mountain air has allowed reindeer lichen to flourish here. Overall, this species is holding steady, but it reminds us that alpine life can be both hardy and fragile – hardy in surviving cold and drought, yet fragile against human impact.
Field Notes
- Not a plant but a symbiotic amalgam of fungus and algae, this lichen has a distinctive appearance. It consists of many whitish-gray branching stalks (the lichen’s thallus) that stand upright 1–4 inches high. Each branch repeatedly forks into three or four segments, creating a bushy, finely divided structure like minuscule antlers. There are no leaves or obvious fruiting bodies as seen on plants; the surface is matte and can be slightly greenish or brownish in parts. Under magnification, you’d see no true outer cortex on the branches – just a tangle of fungal threads wrapped around algal cells. The lichen does not produce showy cups or visible spores in the field; it primarily spreads when pieces break off and reattach (a form of clonal reproduction). When wet, the clump darkens a bit and feels spongy; when dry, it is pale, almost white, and easily crushes (hence very susceptible to boot damage).
- Reindeer Lichen is a pioneer species in harsh, barren landscapes. It can colonize bare rock or mineral soil, secreting acids that slowly help break down rock into soil – thus facilitating later plant succession. It has no roots; it absorbs water and nutrients from rain and air across its surface, which means it’s very sensitive to air quality (sulfates or smog can kill it). In alpine and subalpine zones, its mats help retain a bit of moisture and reduce erosion by covering soil. It grows extremely slowly (only a few millimeters per year) and can take decades to recover after disturbance. This lichen provides critical winter food for caribou/reindeer in subarctic regions, though in NH the woodland caribou are long gone. Still, micro-fauna like insects or spiders may use its tangle for shelter, and birds sometimes pick lichen for nest lining. Its presence on White Mountain summits links these peaks to far northern tundra ecosystems. Because it is so slow-growing, trampling by hikers can eliminate it from heavily used alpine trail edges – hence the importance of walking carefully on rocks where possible. Globally, Cladonia rangiferina is common (NatureServe “Secure”), but locally it benefits from alpine zone conservation efforts.
- Not rare – in fact quite common in alpine and barren habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. In the White Mountains it forms an integral part of the alpine community and lower-elevation pine barrens. It has no special protection status, though it is indirectly protected as part of conserved natural communities. The main concern is its vulnerability to damage: a footprint can crush centuries of growth. Therefore, land managers emphasize Leave No Trace principles in lichen-rich areas. Air pollution historically reduced lichen abundance in some industrial regions; relatively clean mountain air has allowed reindeer lichen to flourish here. Overall, this species is holding steady, but it reminds us that alpine life can be both hardy and fragile – hardy in surviving cold and drought, yet fragile against human impact.
Photo Credits
(c) Nathan Sobol / NH48pics.com