Q What is this charming thing growing on the top of my gatepost?

Melinda: This common lichen (Cladonia cristatella) is found in Canada and most of the northeastern U.S. Often called red

caps or British soldiers because their tops resemble the red caps once worn by British troops, these lichens are slow-growing and are usually found on rotting wood and occasionally on the bases of healthy trees.

Lichens are formed by a rare partnership between an alga or cyanobacteria and a fungus. The fungus provides the protection, while the alga or cyanobacteria bring nutrients to the party.