Rewilding with Lichen in Colorado

The Hardest Working Plant/Fungi in the Natural World

I am not usually one to beat a dead horse but in this case consider that filly whipped!

(link to previous lichen article)

Folks, I understand this is difficult for the ordinary person to fathom but we are talking about a billion year old Photosynthetic Mushroom !

Trip on This, Lichen is a Pioneer Species

That’s right! Lichen are not a single species but when we break it down to ground level, these are two species that could not be more different working great together in a symbiotic relationship.

One is a fungi (mushrooms) and the other is a Cyanobacteria catching rays of sunlight and turning it into energy to burn while doing the lord’s work breaking down solid rock into fertile soil for more plants and animals and mushrooms to grow!

Don’t take my word for it, these little lichens seem to be sprouting up everywhere.

more on Lichen from Kerry Knudsen )

Lichenologist Kerry Knudsen has been nuts about this since the beginning!

Lichen of the World, Unite

This couple copulates and populates the entire earth! If you look around now you will see the familiar shapes on the rocks and trees. The spores act like little brave travelers hoping to find a suitable spot to land and stick that sticky fungus foot in place. Then this crazy duo goes to work again, Careful! They may be under your feet right now!

Hikers Alert

Many times while hiking high in the Colorado Rockies you have seen only a small bare spot on the rocks to purchase a foothold. This is because many hikers before you respected the power of the lichen. Please, tread lightly on the lichen! Thank you!