Cladonia is a common lichen that belongs to the Cladoniaceae family. It is also known by a variety of synonyms such as cup lichen, reindeer lichen, and British soldiers. This species comes in many colors and shapes, ranging from small tufts to bushy, branching types. The cup lichen, for example, has small cups on its upper stems that are used to collect water, while the reindeer lichen physically resembles reindeer antlers. Furthermore, British soldiers are easily identifiable by their red-colored stalks and small, green caps. Overall, the various synonyms for cladonia highlight the diversity within this species and its important ecological role in providing food and shelter for many organisms.