365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Lettuce Lung, Lobaria Oregana
Day 114: Take a deep breath. Where you find any of the "lung" lichens, you can be assured that the air is free of most pollutants. Although most members of this family prefer shady old-growth forest, they can be found in younger stands as well where they are popular forage food for deer and elk. Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria found in the cephalodia (small gall-like growths) of Lobaria species play a significant role in contributing to the overall health of a forest. Aren't lichens grand?
Labels:
Lettuce Lung,
Lobaria oregana,
T Woods
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