Cladonia rangiferina, also known as Reindeer lichen (c.p. Sw.

Swedish language

Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...

 renlav), lat.

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

, is a light-colored, fruticose lichen

Lichen

Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...

 belonging to the family Cladoniaceae

Cladoniaceae

The Cladoniaceae are a family of lichenized fungi in the order Lecanorales. The reindeer moss and cup lichens belong to this family.-Genera:*Calathaspis*Carassea*Cetradonia*Cladia*Cladonia*Gymnoderma*Heterodea...

. It grows in both hot and cold climates in well-drained, open environments. Found primarily in areas of alpine tundra

Alpine tundra

Alpine tundra is a natural region that does not contain trees because it is at high altitude. Alpine tundra is distinguished from arctic tundra, because alpine soils are generally better drained than arctic soils...

, it is extremely cold-hardy.

Other common names include Reindeer moss and Caribou moss. As the common names suggest, Reindeer lichen is an important food for reindeer (caribou)

Reindeer

The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...

, and has economic importance as a result.