In Spring, when there is an abundance of moisture and before temperatures get too hot, lichens are most colorful. British Soldiers, also known as Matchstick Moss, (Cladonia cristatella), are named for their colorful fruiting body which was thought to resemble the uniform of the British Redcoats. Pink Earth Lichen (Dibaesis baeomyces), resembling French knots in embroidery, are those little pink growths on rock or among mosses. Lichens are an unusual combination of two life forms: a fungus and an alga. The fungus (mycobiont) forms the primary structure of the lichen: it anchors it to the substrate and absorbs water and minerals from the environment. The alga (photobiont) is the colorful top structure which is the fruiting body. Both of these lichens formed colorful designs on dark rock backgrounds. These slow-growing structures are very fragile and easily destroyed. In summer, they dry up and go dormant, waiting for a wetter period season when the fungus can absorb water and growth can resume.
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