Pulchrocladia

Pulchrocladia is a small genus of fruticose lichens in the family Cladoniaceae. It has three species. The genus was established in 2018 when DNA studies revealed that the traditional genus Cladia contained several distinct evolutionary groups, leading scientists to separate them into different genera. These ground-dwelling lichens are found only in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, where they form coral-like cushions with intricate lattice patterns in open heathlands, bogs, and coastal areas.