Pycnothelia

Pycnothelia is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Cladoniaceae. The genus contains three species that form distinctive upright, hollow stalks (podetia) rising from a grainy crust, topped with dark, round fruiting bodies. These lichens typically grow on soil or mossy ground in cool, humid habitats. The genus has a scattered global distribution, with one species found across Europe and parts of the Americas, while the other two are restricted to islands in the Southern Hemisphere.