Cladonia rangiferina
| Cladonia rangiferina | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Kingdom: | Fungi | 
| Division: | Ascomycota | 
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes | 
| Order: | Lecanorales | 
| Family: | Cladoniaceae | 
| Genus: | Cladonia | 
| Species: | C. rangiferina | 
| Binomial name | |
| Cladonia rangiferina | |
| Synonyms | |
| List 
 | |
Cladonia rangiferina, also known as reindeer cup lichen, reindeer lichen (cf. Sw. renlav) or grey reindeer lichen, is a light-coloured fruticose, cup lichen species in the family Cladoniaceae. It grows in both hot and cold climates in well-drained, open environments. Found primarily in areas of alpine tundra, it is extremely cold-hardy.
Other common names include reindeer moss, deer moss, and caribou moss, but these names can be misleading since it is, though somewhat moss-like in appearance, not a moss. As the common names suggest, reindeer lichen is an important food for reindeer (caribou), and has economic importance as a result. Synonyms include Cladina rangiferina and Lichen rangiferinus.