Crowned Pixie-cup Lichen
Cladonia carneola
Cladonia carneola or the crowned cup lichen is a species of fruticose, cup lichen in the family Cladoniaceae. It was described as a new species by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladonia_carneola
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Cladoniaceae
Genus
Cladonia
Crowned Pixie-cup Lichen belongs to the family Cladoniaceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Cladonia carneola or the crowned cup lichen is a species of fruticose, cup lichen in the family Cladoniaceae. It was described as a new species by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries. Lichenicolous fungi that have been recorded growing on Cladonia carneola include Phaeopyxis punctum and Taeniolella beschiana.
Crowned Pixie-cup Lichen faces significant threats from habitat degradation due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter soil chemistry and disrupt lichen communities. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate moisture balance required for lichen survival. Urban development and agricultural intensification continue to fragment and destroy suitable habitat across its range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species typically occurs on acidic soil, sandy banks, and disturbed ground in open habitats including heathlands, coastal dunes, roadside verges, and forest clearings. It prefers well-drained, nutrient-poor soils in areas with moderate to high light exposure.
Threats
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Agricultural intensification
Habitat fragmentation from urban development
Soil chemistry alteration
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Crowned Pixie-cup Lichen (Cladonia carneola). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/crowned-pixie-cup-lichen