Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen vs Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

Cladonia ramulosa compared with Aira caryophyllea

Key Differences

Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen is Least Concern while Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen	Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer
Kingdom	Fungi (Pilze)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)	Poales (Süßgrasartige)
Family	Cladoniaceae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Cladonia	Aira
Species	Cladonia ramulosa	Aira caryophyllea

Conservation Status

Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen

LC — Least Concern

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen	Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (6 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Branched Pixie-Cup Lichen

The Branched pixie-cup lichen (Cladonia ramulosa) is a species in the genus Cladonia. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Nelken-Haferschmiele, Nelkenhafer

<em>Aira caryophyllea</em>, commonly known as Common Silver Hairgrass, is a slender annual grass belonging to the family Poaceae within the order Poales. This delicate grass is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant conservation concern despite its historically broad distribution. It is typically found across a remarkable diversity of biome types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, savannas, and flooded habitats, demonstrating notable ecological versatility. Its geographic range spans multiple continents, with documented populations in Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. As an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, reproducing via wind-dispersed seeds. The inflorescence typically bears silvery, shimmering spikelets that give the species its common name. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and dietary specifics follow typical patterns for annual grasses — drawing nutrients from soil through root absorption rather than consuming other organisms. The endangered status suggests populations may be declining due to habitat loss, land-use change, or invasive species pressure across parts of its range.