English name(s):
British soldier lichen,
scarlett-crested cladonia
Family:  Cladoniaceae
Description:
A lichen is a composite organism. As all lichens, this brightly colored fruticose lichen bears the name of the fungus, Cladonia cristatella. The alga is Trebouxia erici.
Habitat:
decaying wood, soil, mossy logs, and tree stumps
Notes:
cladonia = branch (describes characteristic habit of growth) + crista = crest
Additional notes:
Lichens are Fungi!