From a distance, such a bush with plenty of lichen trimmings already looks interesting and colorful. Seen up close, you can see the small
works of art in nature. Even closer, they seem like they are from another world... Common Yellow Lichen (Xanthotia parietina) is the name,
common but very pretty I think...
If you then deal more intensively with the lichens, which are actually not plants but a community of fungi and algae, it gets interesting.
The two organisms form a community, symbiosis, from which both participate: the fungus can absorb water and minerals from the soil and its
environment, but cannot carry out photosynthesis. The production of sugars through photosynthesis is carried out by the alga, which, for lack of
roots, is dependent on the fungus as a supplier for water and minerals. The visible body of the lichen is the fungus, whose color spectrum ranges
from white to yellow, orange, brown, green and grey.
Lichens grow very slowly and are among the longest-lived creatures on earth.
They can be several hundred years old, in some cases even several thousand years old.
Lichens are often perceived as pests. But it's wrong. They are not harmful to the infested trees. These are not parasites that divert important
nutrients from the host's pathways; they merely use the subsoil as a habitat for growth.
The classic misjudgment is based on the fact that lichens are considered to be tree pests, since the organisms often settle on trees that are very old
and/or no longer appear vital.
The organisms' preference for weakened trees is due to the fact that these trees have fewer antibodies in the bark. This favors colonization of the bark
with epiphytic organisms such as lichens and algae.
Lichens on trees are actually a good sign. They are air quality indicators.
The better the air, the more diverse the lichen species.
