Quite often it is the small things that are missed when one is walking with being attentive. This week I discovered a beautiful community of what looks to be toy soldiers lichen on a log near the ocean at Miracle Beach Provincial Park. I’ve been specifically looking for cladonias since Susannah’s (aka Wanderin’ Weeta) Pixie Cups on a Fence post on this genus of lichen. She does an excellent job of describing the features of these challenging (but then, what lichen isn’t) group of lichens.
Toy Soldiers Lichen
I’m not 100% sure on the species of this Cladonia but I’m definitely leaning toward Toy Soldiers (Cladonia bellidiflora). There are a couple of other possibilities including Lipstick Cladonia (C. macilenta). I think that the lichen that I photographed is more squamose (covered with scales) suggesting C. bellidiflora as more likely.
Both of my reference books, Plants of Coastal British Columbia
and the essential Lichens of North America
, support that identification. C. bellidiflora is described as having “abundantly squamulose podetia and bright red fruits (apothecia).” C. macilenta has “relatively few podetial squamules, ending in blunt or pointed tips frequently with bright red apothecia, without cups.” Note the cups in the photograph below.
Sometimes simply observing nature is more important than identifying something to species. Noting distinctive features helps the amateur naturalist develop skills and recognize how similar organisms are different. The act of close observation can also make the experience much more enjoyable!
Here’s a couple of links to web pages with pictures of both of these species:
Toy soldiers look so much like the British Soldiers I have photographed here. I can see the difference, tho. Fascinating.
Thanks Andree – folks should take a look at your site to see the difference/similarities! Toy Soldiers (C. bellidiflora) does occur on the West Coast where I photographed these lichens while British Soldiers (C. cristatella) is restricted primarily to eastern NA. Easy to eliminate them as a possibility due to range as well!
Beautiful photos! I rarely see such luscious red “lips” around here.
Thanks for the link!
I don’t know what flavor lichen these are, but i’m voting for “lipstick” just because those are the most perfect “Betty Boop” lips I ever did see on a lichen.
Thanks Susannah and DB – it is always neat to find and photograph the often missed in the forest.