Lichens are symbiotic associations of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner (photobiont) that can produce food for the lichen from sunlight. Thank you very much for the kind comment, MJ! Lichens absorb and store radioactive substances, such as cesium and strontium compounds, without apparent harm. Marcy J. Miller from Arizona on January 01, 2014: Wow. Washing it well helps remove the bitterness. Answer: The safety of lichens when eaten is a topic that researchers still need to explore. Potent Essential Oils for Lichen Sclerosus 1. Lichens are interesting organisms. I always appreciate your visits and support! One with colour photos and descriptions of the different types would be especially helpful. Usnea may be whitish, reddish, or black. Based on what I have read recently, other chemicals with antibiotic properties have been found in certain lichens. They tend to gather specimens that have already become detached from their substrate or that are growing in a place from which they are likely to be removed, such as trees that have died. It occurs more commonly in postmenopausal women, but premenopausal women, men and children may be affected. Thanks for the comment, EGamboa. ), The red reproductive structures of the British soldiers lichen, or Cladonia cristatella; the lichen is growing in the company of mosses, Walter Baxter, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 License. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on June 17, 2017: Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on June 15, 2017: Thanks you lot giving information about lichen. What is lichen sclerosus? Voted up and pinned. There are references in the blue boxes in this article, although I may change the colour and position of the boxes when I do my next edit of the article. I have seen these on tree banks, but had no clue as to what they were, but now I do and will keep my eyes open to spot them. Thank you for the interesting comment and the congrats, RTalloni. Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on January 09, 2014: Brilliantly put together and now I know so much more about this topic. 3. According to the ancient botanist Theophrastus (Book III of his History of Plants), in the IIIrd century before Jesus Christ, lichen emanated from bark. ????? Lichens are fascinating. They play an important role in our natural ecosystems and can let us know when those ecosystems are in trouble. Some people extract dye from the lichen, so it doesn't seem to be dangerous to touch. Usnea is a lichen( an algae fungus combination) and it is antimicrobial, antibacterial, vulnerary and antifungal. The clinical proof of its therapeutic effectiveness is listed especially for elderly patients and asthenic persons who suffer from airway catarrh with recurring inflammation. thanks! That photo of yours is awesome too. They're interesting to see. Different lichens, mainly crustose type, cause serious damage to window glasses and marble stones of old buildings. That being said, I always wash my hands after time spent handling soil, decaying bark or similar substrates because they may contain harmful microbes. Other important factors likely include whether the fungus or the alga absorbs or stores the metals, the chemical form and location in which a specific metal is stored, and whether or not the lichen releases the metals from its thallus in some form. Apart from this particular lichen species, others also boast therapeutic benefits: – oak lungwort, also called lungmoss (Lobaria pulmonaria). Lichens are not plants, rather they are organisms composed of fungi and algae. Thank you for such a lovely comment, Bill! Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on January 09, 2014: Thank you very much for the kind comment and the votes, DDE! UUI votes. 2. That I thought went extremely deep, the lichen began and is still coming to the surface, it now itches. OR KNOW WHO CAN...FYI ...They are on my extremities, and a little on my face. So very very odd!! I just need for my research pleasee @AliciaC. Most of the water and nutrients that the thallus needs are absorbed from the surrounding air and raindrops instead of through the rhizines or holdfast. Some groups boiled specific species of lichens and mixed them with berries, fish, or wild onions before eating them. Jason Hollinger, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 License. Research published in 2000 reported that some scientists had detected the vitamin in two related species of lichen. The alga uses the light energy to make carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water. The algal cells make food for both themselves and the fungus. The algae or bacteria live inside the fungus, and exchange nutrients with it. I hope 2015 is a wonderful year for you, too! It was only in 1867 that Simon Schwendener (a Swiss botanist) observed that these plants not only had a binary nature but were also pa… In British Columbia, in cooking, “Bear’s hair” lichen (Bryoria fremontii) was mixed in with other ingredients such as elk fat, saskatoon berries, fawn-lily erythronium and tiger lily bulbs to prepare pudding. This is probably the best place to check first of all. I have just written an article about Usnea Lichen which is killing the trees in my garden. In the future, lichens may provide us with antibiotics and sunscreen chemicals. Another factor that helps the bark to get covered with lichens over time is that individual lichens slowly grow and get bigger. It seems to have done the MOST to rid myself of them. Jason Hollinger, via Wikmedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 License. Thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your experience, Audrey! I hope that 2014 is a great year for you. But, anyway HOW ON EARTH DID THEY GET INTO ME AND HOW DO I KILL THEM...ALL??? 1. – Common yellow wall lichen (or Parmelia parietina) for which the properties are identical to those of quinine. Today lichen components are used in deodorants as well as perfumes because of their pleasing aroma. I agree - lichens probably have medicinal benefits that we are unaware of. Although, lichens are now known to be composite organisms, they are still named for the fungus part of the association since that is the prominent part of the lichen thallus. Researchers don’t yet know which of these scenarios is true. I savored every word of this fascinating article. Question: In which kingdom are Lichens classified? While it's true that some animals on the tundra eat lichens, they eat specific species and tend to do this when other food types are unavailable. The fungus is often said to be "lichenized" when it's combined with an alga. Question: Which lichens are harmful to humans when eaten? They contain chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight. There are also other species that serve as thickeners and emulsifiers in the food processing industry. this is the best and the most helpful article about lichen..... Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on April 30, 2016: Thank you, Heidi. Some oakmoss extracts advertise the fact that they are low in atranol. They need to not only identify the chemicals present in the different species of lichens but also determine whether the concentration of the chemicals is harmful to humans. Even under my toes and my breasts and decoulage(upper chest) in case I spelled it wrong. Question: Is it safe to burn branches with lichen? Pseudevernia furfuracea is another fruticose lichen used in the perfume industry. Jelly lichens live in moist areas and have a gelatinous appearance when wet. Most people shouldn't eat lichens today because of the possibility of ingesting a toxic one. Is Tar Jelly Lichen Dangerous? Except that there are some very bitter species of lichen that provoke intestinal disorders.