Deer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina)

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Cladoniaceae
Genus: Cladonia
Species: rangiferina

Deer Moss is common in Florida's forest and can be easily spotted when it grows in mats. Deer Moss is actually a lichen, having no roots and obtaining its moisture from the air. Deer Moss when dry can be very rough and brittle but when moisture is added it becomes soft and squashy. It can also house many microscopic critters such as water bears or nematodes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cladonia_rangiferina