Icmadophila Ericetorum, Spray-Paint Lichen

Day 110: Invariably when the subject of lichens arises, someone will take me to task for my pronunciation of the word. Y'see, I say "litch-en" to rhyme with "itchin'" rather than "like-en," which to me is something done with careless abandon on Facebook. Webster's Third New International Dictionary (my bible) supports my usage, although admittedly it adds "chiefly British" by way of justification. It's not the only word in my vocabulary which has been influenced by proximity to Canada, but it is probably the most deeply entrenched. I've recently started countering the teasing with a riposte: "Quitcherbitchin' and call it 'litchen.'" Of course if you prefer, you could always stammer your way through the Latin names of these fascinating life forms instead. Let's start off with Icmadophila ericetorum, aka "spray-paint lichen" or "candy lichen."

Icmadophila Ericetorum, Candy Lichen

Day 134: "Who sprayed green paint all over that log?" I've heard that question asked several times, and the truth of the matter is that the "paint" is the crustose thallus of Icmadophila ericetorum, also known as "Candy Lichen" or (appropriately) "Spray Paint." The pinkish-white structures are the apothecia (fruiting bodies), not an overgrowth of a fungus as many people suppose. That said, lichens are neither fungus nor plant. In fact, they are a symbiotic union of an alga and a fungus, a co-dependent  and complex relationship which operates to the mutual benefit of each partner. Many have very specific requirements for growth. Icmadophila is often found on decaying cedar in the Pacific Northwest.