Ladder Lichen

Image: Richard Droker
Cladonia verticillata

It's the very latest development in pixie architecture...

Ladders!

Image: Andrew K

As technology continues its indomitable ascent and the power of magic slowly wanes, many pixies have found their ability to teleport increasingly unreliable. Many a pixie has found themselves caught short and have had to fend off beetles and ants using nothing but a twig and a sturdy leaf.

The answer is ladders.

Image: Andrew K

Ladder Lichens are found all over the northern hemisphere, in parts of North America, Europe, north Africa and Asia.

Their proper name is Cladonia cervicornis subsp verticillata, because they're an extremely vertical subspecies of a a lichen which is usually a lot more shrubby and leafy.

Image: Richard Droker

This more vertical variety is formed of numerous towering tiers, each one growing out of the top of the last.

Not only does it make for a good ladder, the pixies even have little platforms so they can stop for a rest as they climb!

Image: Elizabeth Sellers

Man, I just love those pixie villages!