A genus of lichens that form colorful, branching, cup-shaped fruiting bodies and are common in forests and tundra.
From Greek 'klados' (branch), referring to the lichen's highly branched structure. Named scientifically in the 18th century to capture the organism's distinctive branching form.
Cladonia lichens are sometimes called 'reindeer moss' and are a critical food source for caribou herds in the Arctic—one reindeer can eat several pounds per day, making this humble lichen essential for survival in harsh northern climates.
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