# Lichen

Lichen is a special type of fungus that grows on rocks, trees, and soil. It comes in many colors like green, gray, and yellow, and helps keep the air clean.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Various surfaces
- **Also known as:** Reindeer Moss, Tree Lichen

![Lichen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Letharia_vulpina_JHollinger_crop.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Letharia_vulpina_JHollinger_crop.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lichen has a diverse appearance, often forming flat crusts, leafy flakes, or miniature shrub-like structures. They come in many colors like grey-green, yellow, orange, or black, clinging tightly to surfaces like rocks or tree bark.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Lecanoromycetes
- **Order:** Lecanorales
- **Family:** Parmeliaceae
- **Genus:** Lichen

## Interesting facts

- Lichen has been used by humans for making colorful dyes and medicines.
- Scientists can use lichen to help date ancient artifacts and rock formations!
- Some lichens are among the slowest-growing organisms on Earth!
- They can survive being completely dried out for a very long time.

## Special abilities

- **Team Power!:** Lichen is a super partnership between a fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria) because they both benefit from living together.
- **Rock Conqueror:** Lichen can grow on bare rocks because they slowly break them down, helping create new soil over time.
- **Air Detective:** Lichen has a special ability to show us how clean the air is because they are very sensitive to pollution.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 0.1-20 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Growth Substrate:** other
- **Season:** Year-round

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Green Alga (*Trebouxia erici*) — algae provide food via photosynthesis
- **Eaten by:** Reindeer (*Rangifer tarandus*) — major food source in winter
- **Shelter:** Springtail (*Orchesella cincta*) — tiny insects find refuge within
- **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — some cultures use it for dyes

## Traits

- [Lichen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/lichen): This trait describes a composite organism resulting from a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, typically an alga or cyanobacterium.
- [Nonvascular](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nonvascular): This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
- [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Lichen is safe to touch but should not be eaten.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lichen?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lichen?

0.1-20 cm

### Is Lichen edible?

edible

### Where is Lichen usually found?

Various surfaces

### What does Lichen grow on?

other

### When is Lichen in season?

Year-round

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Lichen: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lichen)