🎵 On the seventh day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Seven Reindeer lichens 🎶
Reindeer lichens (Cladonia spp.) are prevalent in many of our open sunny habitats and can serve as food for our caribou. A great snack for Rudolph and his friends when they drop in!

🎵 On the sixth day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Six frilly Fringeworts 🎶
Though they look like a feathery moss, Fringeworts (Ptilidium spp) are actually liverworts. Each leaf is like a tiny little holiday tree with ‘cilia’ or branches coming off from all sides.

🎵 On the fifth day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Five Old Man's Beard 🎶
Beard lichens (Usnea spp.) are one of the most commercially important lichens owing to a chemical component (usnic acid) which has antibiotic capabilities.

🎵 On the fourth day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Four Big Red Stems 🎶
Big Red Stem moss (Pleurozium schreberi) showcases holiday colours of emerald green and hints of ruby red.

🎵 On the third day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Three Lungworts 🎶
Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) is a lettuce-like lichen and is used as an indicator of good air quality in our natural areas.

🎵 On the second day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
Two Red Dung moss🎶
This cute moss (Splachnum rubrum) showcases vibrant red umbrella-like sporophytes and grows primarily on moose scat!

🎵 On the first day of December, what Cryptogam do I see?
A wolf lichen in a pine tree. 🎶

#DYK that Wolf lichen (Letharia vulpina) are bright yellow lichens that were once used to poison wolves that preyed on livestock?

The work is mysterious and important 😉