Showing posts with label Cladonia coniocraea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cladonia coniocraea. Show all posts

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Gardening In Miniature


Day 135: It's well-known that I am a complete failure when it comes to growing vegetables, but have a reasonable amount of success with flowers. I tend the flowerbeds fairly regularly in spring, keeping them weed-free until summer activities distract me from their care. I water during hot spells, seldom otherwise, and have identified certain species which are capable of surviving my lackadaisical treatment. That said, my garden is generally a riot of colour from June through September, if completely devoid of anything which might be called organization or scheme. However, in addition to enjoying blooming annuals and perennials, I take equal delight in the miniature landscapes which occupy the cedar split-rail fence: mosses and lichens of all shapes and sizes. Not a dry day passes that I don't stop to look more closely at one of my "garden-variety" lichens when I walk out to get the mail or feed the birds. It pleases me as much to see a colony of Cladonia coniocraea flourishing as it does to have nasturtiums cascading from a hanging basket or cosmos nodding over the sidewalk.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Cladonia Coniocraea, Common Powderhorn


Day 125: My yard sports a wide variety of lichens, and as I discovered upon close study of my split-rail fence, I have a good sampling of Cladonia species. This is C. coniocraea, Common Powderhorn. It can be told from its cousin C. ochrochlora by examining the lower half of the podetia (stalks) to see if they are smooth or grainy (sorediate). The common name "Smooth-footed Powderhorn" tells you what to expect of the latter, and in the case of my garden, both species share at least one cedar rail. The tiny cups at the tips of the podetia are another distinguishing macro feature which help identify this lichen. It pays to take a closer look at what you may have in your yard. It may have more diversity than you imagine!