Cladonia parasitica mainly grows on old oak and pine wood. The
thallus is brown or grey. The
squamules are minutely divided and look like coral or small scales. When
apothecia are present they take the form of small brown morel-like protrusions atop the branches. The species is found in North America and Eurasia in the
boreal,
boreal-nemoral, and
nemoral regions. Cladonia parasitica is considered a red-listed species in Sweden, categorized as (
Near Threatened). It is used as a signal species, indicating high-value
old-growth forest. Its secondary metabolites include
barbatic acid,
decarboxythamnolic acid and
thamnolic acid. ==See also==