I’m Liken’ the Lichens
There is an old wooden bench that has been sitting by the front of my house for over 20 years. I like to sit on it and watch the birds as they swoop down to grab a snack at my feeders. In addition to being a viewing spot, my bench is also home to the lichen who have been slowly settling in there for many seasons. Do you have a bench that looks like this? If so, the first two words that might come to mind this spring-cleaning season are POWER WASH. But hold off on that thought. Instead, take a moment to get to know those lichens. Super up close. You might find them absolutely fascinating, as I have.
Here are some amazing tidbits about lichen from a super novice naturalist….
Many people think lichens are a kind of moss. They are, in fact, a combination of algae and fungi — living together in a symbiotic way. The fungi, which makes up more of the structure. provide shelter to the algae, which, in return, provides photosynthesis, producing sugars that sustain the fungi. HOW COOL IS THAT??
Lichens do not have roots, so instead they attach themselves to a substrate. They thrive on rock surfaces, trunks and branches of trees and shrubs and yes, our wooden benches. Start to pay attention and you will notice that lichens come in beautiful shapes and colors from orange and yellow to green and black.
In addition to being super cool looking, lichens are vital to the health and well-being of our entire ecosystem. They serve as a food source and habitat for many animals including deer, birds, and rodents. They provide nesting material for birds. And they protect many trees and rocks from the elements
PLUS, they have ecological superpowers! Lichens decompose natural material, contributing to the formation of healthy soil. They help to maintain moisture levels in the atmosphere, which is essential for the health of our forest communities. And they are a vital tool for measuring air quality. The more lichens, the cleaner the air. Cleaner air is healthier for us ALL!
And on a just “play nice” level, lichens are a perfect model of teamwork — the parts (fungi and algae) doing what’s best for the whole. As Robin Wall Kimmerer puts it, in Braiding Sweetgrass:
“When times are easy and there’s plenty to go around, individual species can go it alone. But when conditions are harsh and life is tenuous, it takes a team sworn to reciprocity to keep life going forward. In a world of scarcity, interconnection and mutual aid become critical for survival. So say the lichens.” (p.272)
I mean seriously. We could all take a lesson from the lichen playbook.
Lichens are thought to be one of the earliest land dwelling forms of life. They go, like, all the way back. And they exist on every space of our planet — including places where plants and animals cannot thrive. That must mean they are pretty important.
So, I say let’s just leave the lichens to do their work on our benches, trees and rocks. Use that power washing time to connect instead. Just take a deep breath and go on a little lichen wander. How many shapes, colors and textures do you think you can discover?