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  

http://www.durangonaturestudies.org/articles/111005.htm

Soup's On: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Half Moon Bay California

Please, click on the illustration above 

to fully enjoy the soupy details.

Soup's On!

People aren't actually allowed to collect algae or seaweed at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, in the northern outskirts of Half Moon Bay, California. On my recent tidepooling trip there, the vegetation reminded me of many a plate of japanese-restaurant food with my friend Kim. 


During these mid day work escapes, I  happily slurped down the, what always seemed to me to be, exotic miso soup. Kim, on the other hand looked at it with total disinterest. She grew up in Hawaii with her mama telling her to, "Eat your miso soup, it's good for you."


Kim's living back home, on the Big Island of Hawaii now. I visited her one day for lunch when I touristed nearby, three springs back. Homegrown macademia nuts, white pineapple and  home-smoked turkey.


Not a drop of miso soup.