Not quite a mushroom but close enough :p
And they are always much easier to find for me around here and in all kinds of forms, colours and sizes.
A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship. Lichens have properties different from those of their component organisms.
source
Those tall sticks is a British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia macilenta). A common one, even though I don't see it often. The very characteristic red tip (thus the name) didn't develop on those here yet even though some more mature ones show signs of growing some.
They were about 1-3 cm in height.
Lower, as if they were growing in the shadow of the skinny cousin you have the little cups - my all time favorite lichen - Cladonia pyxidata. Those are maybe 0.5cm across. Very small with beautiful pale green colour. Early in the morning you can often find a drop of mist inside them.
Absolutely lovely.
The green stuff is just a moss :p
They had a really nice spot to grow. An old pine stump that was decomposing slowly holding a lot of moisture in the wood surrounded by bushes and tall trees.
I spend a good 20 minutes there admiring the variety and shooting.
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Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
