Ajuga vs Smooth Clad Lichen

Ajuga reptans compared with Cladonia gracilis

Key Differences

Ajuga is Endangered while Smooth Clad Lichen is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Ajuga	Smooth Clad Lichen
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Lamiales (Lamiales)	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)
Family	Lamiaceae	Cladoniaceae
Genus	Ajuga	Cladonia
Species	Ajuga reptans	Cladonia gracilis

Conservation Status

Ajuga

EN — Endangered

Smooth Clad Lichen

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Ajuga	Smooth Clad Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Ajuga

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Japan), Europe (6 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Smooth Clad Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States.

Ajuga

The Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) is a species in the genus Ajuga. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environment.