lichens
Symbiotic bark growths
Lichens are composite organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria.
They grow on rocks, trees, soil, and buildings as crusty, leafy, or branching patches in grays, greens, yellows, and oranges.
Lichens are sensitive to air pollution, making them useful environmental indicators.
They grow extremely slowly—some arctic specimens are thousands of years old.
Undifferentiated vegetative body
- cortexOrgan's external tissue
- ciliaHairlike cellular projections
- medullaInnermost organ tissue
- lobesRounded projecting parts
branching · leafy · shrubby · encrusting · powdery
First life establishing somewhere
- successionFollowing in order
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- air qualityPollution level measurement
- nitrogen fixationConverting inert gas to ammonia
soil formation · weathering · decomposition · biodiversity · microhabitat · reindeer moss · ecosystem
Two-way biological benefit
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- fungalOf or like mushrooms
- symbioticMutually dependent relationship
partnership · coexistence · composite · chlorophyll · photosynthesis · mycelium · hyphae
Solid earthen material
- barkSharp canine vocalization
- treeWoody perennial plant
- boulderLarge weathered stone
- tundraFrigid treeless biome
alpine · arctic · epiphyte · gravestone · cliff · outcrop · deadwood · exposed
Full of varied hues
- crustyHard-shelled, literally or figuratively
- leafyHaving abundant foliage
- bushyGrowing densely outward
- orangeCitrus with segments
yellow · chartreuse · old man's beard · textured · mottled · patchy · slow-growing
Pigment for changing hues
- pigmentColor-imparting material
- litmusAcid-base indicator dye
- oakmossTree lichen for scents
- perfumeryCraft of creating scents
traditional medicine · edible · natural dye · textile · folk remedy · foraging
Science of categorical arrangement
- mycologyScientific study of fungi
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- specimenIndividual for examination
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
microscopy · chemistry · voucher · flora · dating · succession
thallus
Undifferentiated vegetative body
pioneer species
First life establishing somewhere
- successionFollowing in order
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- air qualityPollution level measurement
nitrogen fixation · soil formation · weathering · decomposition · biodiversity · microhabitat · reindeer moss · ecosystem
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- fungalOf or like mushrooms
symbiotic · partnership · coexistence · composite · chlorophyll · photosynthesis · mycelium · hyphae
rock
Solid earthen material
tundra · alpine · arctic · epiphyte · gravestone · cliff · outcrop · deadwood · exposed · substrate
colorful
Full of varied hues
- crustyHard-shelled, literally or figuratively
- leafyHaving abundant foliage
- bushyGrowing densely outward
orange · yellow · chartreuse · old man's beard · textured · mottled · patchy · slow-growing
dye
Pigment for changing hues
perfumery · traditional medicine · edible · natural dye · textile · folk remedy · foraging
taxonomy
Science of categorical arrangement
- mycologyScientific study of fungi
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- specimenIndividual for examination
fieldwork · microscopy · chemistry · voucher · flora · dating · succession
- symbiontsclownfish, mycorrhizae, cyanobacteria, remora, pilot fish
- Desiccation Survivaltardigrades, tardigrade, water bears, water bear, brine shrimp
- Eurasian floradesert flora, desert plants, astragalus, juniper, tamarisk
- foresttrees, pine, oak, woods, wood
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
lichensbamboo
Tall woody grass
kudzu · annuals · weeds · bacteria · algal blooms
lichensinvasive species
Harmful non-native organism
cockroaches · rats · pigeons · dandelions
- lichen sclerosusInflammatory skin thinning disease