Here, there and lichen it everywhere!

A lichen is not a separate organism in the sense of being one type of individual. It is actually a close partnership between a fungus and an alga. (Algae are very simple plants). The two types of organisms in the partnership are so closely interwoven that they appear as a single individual. This individual looks entirely different to either of the partner organisms making up the structure. Lichens are distinctive and they form many different, recognizable types. Many of these have been given specific names of their own, despite the fact that each lichen is already a mixture of different species.There are more than 1,700 species of lichen in Britain. Approximately 18,000 species of lichen have been described and identified worldwide.

Lichens  colonize some of the most inhospitable habitats on earth. They can survive in extremely cold areas such as on high mountains and in regions such as the arctic. They may be virtually the only plant form surviving in some of these areas and can be vitally important sources of food for animals. They are also found throughout less extreme climates, inhabiting just about any solid surface. This can range from rocks on sea shores, to walls, trees and concrete. A few are unattached and blow about freely.

This information comes from the Countryside Info site and you can find out much more and see some lovely pictures here:

http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/fungi/lichens.htm

It’s a tree, but it reminded me of a standing stone, it looked so old and gnarled, and yet it was probably only about ten years old!