Which type of lichen has small branches that bear fruiting bodies at the ends?

The type of lichen characterized by small branches that bear fruiting bodies at their ends is indeed fruticose. Fruticose lichens typically have a three-dimensional, bushy or shrublike structure. This morphology allows them to grow upright and have distinct branches, which often feature reproductive structures called apothecia or perithecia at their tips. These fruiting bodies are essential for reproduction, as they produce spores.

In contrast, foliose lichens are leaf-like in appearance, having a flattened structure that resembles leaves, and while they can also reproduce, they do not exhibit the branching habit and fruiting body placement typical of fruticose lichens. Crustose lichens form a crusty layer tightly adhered to the substrate and do not have the branched morphology or any obvious fruiting bodies. The term non-vascular refers to a group of plants or organisms that do not have specialized tissues (vasculature) for transporting water and nutrients, and it is not applicable in this context for lichen classification.