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Lichens

Section through Xanthoria parietina showing the algal layer

Section through Xanthoria parietina showing the algal layer

What is a lichen?

Lichens are fungi with an unusual life style where the fungus combines with algal and/or cyanobacterial partners to form an independent organism that is different from the separate partners.

Only the fungal partner in the lichen reproduces sexually. Germinating spores must combine with the appropriate alga to form another lichen.

Lichens range from small crust-like growths to leaf- or beard-like structures.

  • The lichen Usnea articulata on twigs in Madeira
    Habitats

    Learn where lichens live.

  • Neuropogon specimens of lichen collected by Charles Darwin
    Lichen collections

    Delve into the Museum’s lichen collection, one of the world's largest. It contains at least 10,000 type specimens and important historic collections such as that of Erik Acharius, the father of lichenology. Slime moulds are also curated in this section.

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