Rhizocarpon geminatum

Gray, crustose thallus with black apothecia. Growing on a rock in a mixed forest.

comments (6)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

I'm just loving all these lichen species with their mysterious patterns! Posted 7 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  They are amazing! I have close to 1,000 lichen and fungi pics, but many are still unidentified. So, I'm trying to catch up and post some here - even though they lack ID's or may not be the best photos ;P Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Oh wow, that's a collection that should get the treatment it deserves. I have no expertise to offer, but let's see if we can find a tool or expert to help with it. Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      It just takes the right person to see them! I have over 2,000 photos on Mushroom Observer, and the people there have identified many of them (around 200 species so far). Every now and then, someone will identify a mushroom I spotted a long time ago that I thought would never be identified :) Posted 7 years ago
3. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  I was just thinking that not only are they interesting and beautiful, but they are so incredibly important in the environment, although most people might not realize it. Perhaps you know this already, but bear with me... So, lichens are composite organisms that consist of fungus and algae. Algae are photosynthetic organisms that make nearly half of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. Lichens provide a way for algae to survive in harsh climates, where they normally would not be able to survive. Since the lichens enable algae to live all over the world, they also provide a way for them to convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into oxygen thru photosynthesis. Another amazing purpose for lichens: they absorb pollutants in the atmosphere and can be useful in biomonitoring. In this way, they provide scientists with valuable information about the air quality, the presence of heavy metals, etc. Posted 7 years ago
4. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Oops, missed this comment. It deserves a reply. Even if only to agree. It is baffling how little is known about lichen in the masses, and I'm including myself in that. Posted 7 years ago