As I have indicated in the last few posts, winter woodlands are at first look, devoid of color. Yet if you take the time to look closely, you can find colorful treasures dangling from shrubs, and growing on the forest floor.

One bit of light green that grows amongst mosses on logs and exposed nutrient poor soils is a lichen called pyxie cup lichen. This ¾” tall lichen looks similar to a chalice in King Arthur’s Court. Like a wine glass, there is a cup on top of a stem. It often grows alongside other lichens including the British soldier lichen.

Although you may notice it more during the winter, it grows throughout the year, but is often overlooked when the plants around it are leafed out. Various species of this plant can be found around the world.