Episode 11. Talking about Lichens with Vanessa Ryan - Part 1

16 Apr

They are everywhere! But what is a lichen? What do they do and how do they live? In this episode, Theresa and Cathy learn all about lichens from Vanessa Ryan. Vanessa is an amateur lichenologist/mycologist, and works as a volunteer research assistant and curator, especially on the lichen collection for the Queensland Herbarium. This is Part 1 of our discussion, where we learn about the different growth forms of lichen, reproductive strategies, where they grow and their many uses.

**Orange apothecia (reproductive structures that release spores), and pale green foliose lichen with isidia (vegetative reproductive structures)**

Fallen branch with different lichens

Closer look at lichen forms

Dark colour underside of foliose (leaf-like) lichen

Orange apothecia on crust lichen (white), and foliose lichen with isidia

Fruticose (shrubby) form of lichen

Fruticose form of lichen

Observing where lichens are growing

Crustose form on tree

Vanessa using an eyeglass to examine crustose lichen

Lichen structure. Credit: Jdurant CC BY-SA 3.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

Foliose lichen with isidia (vegetative reproductive structure), on eucalyptus tree

Black lines around lichens - defending territory

Growing on different substrate - volcanic rock

Different apothecia - round black form, and lirrelate (linear-radiating) brown form

Slugs and snails love eating lichen

Many apothecia with white margins on foliose lichen

Ramalina species of fruticose lichen (Stradbroke Island)

Ramalina species - fruticose with flattened branches

Usnea species of a fruticose lichen

Cladonia cristatella (British Soldiers) - a fruticose cup lichen

Lichens all sorts!

Resources and Links

Vanessa Ryan has a great presentation on Lichens available from the Queensland Mycological Society’s uploads on Youtube - check it out here, The Wonderful World of Lichens

Vanessa has also produced two handy booklets for anyone interested in learning more about lichens. They can be downloaded for free from the Queensland Mycological Society’s website. Look for the Downloads page, under the References tab.

A Beginner’s Guide to Identifying Lichens in Queensland, Vanessa Ryan, 2023. Queensland Mycological Society.

A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Lichens in Queensland, Vanessa Ryan, 2023. Queensland Mycological Society.

Lichen photography with a smartphone - this is a handy guide produced by the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association

Theresa and Cath

Episode 11. Talking about Lichens with Vanessa Ryan - Part 1

Resources and Links

Episode 10: Sporopod Short - Join the Great Aussie Fungi Hunt 2024!