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Cladonia rangiferina

(L.) F. H. Wigg.

Gray Reindeer Lichen

G5Secure Found in 41 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.122422
Element CodeNLTEST7160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomFungi
PhylumAscomycota
ClassLecanoromycetes
OrderLecanorales
FamilyCladoniaceae
GenusCladonia
Synonyms
Cladina rangiferina(L.) Nyl.
Other Common Names
Cladonie des rennes (FR) Grey-green Reindeer Lichen (EN) greygreen reindeer lichen (EN)
Concept Reference
Esslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4): 467-549.
Taxonomic Comments
Esslinger (2018) transfers Cladina rangiferina to Cladonia rangiferina; these represent the same concept for the element. Stable: Ahti, T. 1979? Lichen of the Boreal Coniferous Zone, in Lichen Ecology, M. Seaward, Ed. Esslinger (2004) accepts the move of Cladina to Cladonia.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodPre-2010 methodology converted to 2011 data model
Review Date2013-06-06
Change Date2001-01-21
Edition Date2000-11-17
Edition AuthorsMcDonald, L.
Rank Reasons
This lichen is found circumpolar to Oregon and Montana. Cladina rangiferina is one of the most common lichen species in bogs and on tundra in the American Arctic, according to Thomson (1984). However, it is rare in the Pacific Northwest.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Reindeer lichen (an association of a fungus and an alga) is a fruticose lichen forming grey-green thick cushions on the ground in boreal and sub-arctic-tundra regions. (Fruticose lichens are radially symmetrical, the thallus being more or less round.) Branches arising from the thallus have tips that are swept in more or less the same direction. Growth occurs by producing new branches each year, as well as by elongation of older branches.

Diagnostic Characteristics

A reindeer lichen, grey-green in colour, forming a cushion, growing on the ground. The tips of the branches point in one direction.
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
GeorgiaSNRYes
WyomingSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
ColoradoS1Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
IndianaSNRYes
MontanaS1Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS5Yes
QuebecSNRYes
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS5Yes
AlbertaS4Yes
LabradorS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS5Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
NunavutS5Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (41)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Alaska (2)
AreaForestAcres
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Maine (1)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Minnesota (6)
AreaForestAcres
Baker - Homer - Brule LakesSuperior National Forest6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle MountainSuperior National Forest12,380
Cabin CreekSuperior National Forest6,071
Hegman LakesSuperior National Forest675
Kawishiwi Lake To SawbillSuperior National Forest15,305
Tait LakeSuperior National Forest6,327
New Hampshire (10)
AreaForestAcres
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
Gold CreekWillamette National Forest1,364
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Hoop HoleJefferson National Forest4,652
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Washington (2)
AreaForestAcres
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
West Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Wisconsin (1)
AreaForestAcres
09012 - Round Lake Study AreaChequamegon-Nicolet National Forest3,707
References (5)
  1. Esslinger, T. L. 2004. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. North Dakota State University: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/esslinge/chcklst/chcklst7.htm (First Posted 1 December 1997, Most Recent Update 2 March 2004), Fargo, North Dakota.
  2. Esslinger, T. L. 2018. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada, Version 22. Opuscula Philolichenum 17:6-268. [http://sweetgum.nybg.org/philolichenum/]
  3. Esslinger, T.L. and R.S. Egan. 1995. A sixth checklist of the lichen-forming, lichenicolous, and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. The Bryologist 98(4): 467-549.
  4. McCune, B. and L. Geiser. 1997. Macrolichens of the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. A co-publication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. 386 pp.
  5. Thomson, J.W. 1984. American arctic lichens. 1. The macrolichens. Columbia University Press, N.Y. 504 pp.