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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Feels Lichen You Are Givin' Me the GOLD Eye (Hiking Edgewood)


Edgewood Gold Eye Lichen
Teloschistes chrysophthalmus
Freddie Fungus and Alice Algae took a lichen to each other.
It was an old-style relationship.
Freddie provided the house.
Alice made all the food.

Hunh?
* * *

Fungus can't photosynthesize, but they can make structures.

Algae are great at photosynthesizing, converting  solar energy and carbon dioxide into food. They need a place to hang out.

Lichen, like the Edgewood Gold Eye above, are a combination of fungus and algae. The fungus provides a place for the algae to live, and the algae makes nourishment for both of them. 

It's symbiosis at it's best.

~ ~ ~
Web Resources
Really good Explanation of Lichens and discussion of the impact of pollution and toxins on them  

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