Shared Space - Usnea And Ramalina

Day 121: It is not uncommon to find lichen species crowding together, intertwined so thoroughly that one might think that the different shapes are simply different manifestations of the same lichen, especially when they are similarly coloured like this combination of Ramalina and Usnea. These two species share a common photobiont, the algae which performs the task of photosynthesis. However, the fungal component of these two lichens is different, as microscopic examination of their spores would likely reveal. The fungus is largely responsible for determining the general morphology of a lichen, i.e., whether it is foliose (leafy), fruticose (having a more three-dimensional structure) or crustose (crust-like). A third component in lichens is yeast, of which there are also numerous strains. Yeasts provide protection against microbes. There's a lot going on in this shared space!

Footnote: By request, a specimen from yesterday's Arum dig will be placed in the WTU Herbarium as soon as it is dry.