Happy As A Wet Lichen

Day 24: You've heard the phrase, "mad as a wet hen." How about "happy as a wet lichen?" Lichens have a variety of strategies for gathering moisture, and can survive for protracted periods of dry weather by being able to maximize what little is available as dew and in the form of humidity. Many lichens have rough or scaly cortices which increase their surface area substantially. Others like Lettuce Lung (Lobaria pulmonaria) have dimpled foliage in which water pools and is subsequently absorbed into their tissues. Had you seen this specimen in late summer, you would have thought it was dead. The lobes were brown and so crisp that they could easily be crumbled between probing fingers. However, once the autumn rains began, this lichen quickly came back to life and greenness.