Anyone with Mycology background know what this species is.?

Question

It grows in The Rome Sand Plains in Rome,NY.

http://www.artwanted.com/imageview.cfm?id=662841

Answer 1

It is a Lichen .

It is Cladonia Lichen ==

Cladonia is a genus of moss-like lichens in the family Cladoniaceae.

They are the primary food source for reindeer and caribou. Cladonia species are of economic importance to reindeer-herders, such as the Sami in Scandinavia or the Nenets in Russia.

Antibiotic compounds are extracted from some species to create antibiotic cream.

The light green species Cladonia stellaris is used in flower decorations.

Cladonia perforata ("perforate cladonia") is one of two on the U.S. Endangered Species List, and it should never be collected.

It exists only in a few small populations in Florida.

((((((Several Cladonia species grow on sand dunes. ))))))

The statement in multiple brackets above is important for you !

The presence, and luxuriant carpet-like growth, of Cladonia species is one of the defining characters of gray dune, a priority habitat for conservation under the E.U. Habitats Directive.

Cladonia species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes continuella.

The particular species in the photo given by you is =

Cladonia portentosa = Images below for confirmation =

http://www.lichens.de/images/what_look/C...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

http://www.nature-diary.co.uk/nn-images/...

http://www.biopix.dk/Photo.asp?Language=...

From = A Botanist