Interesting Lichen Uses:
o Lichens are very slow growing. Lichens are also some of the oldest known living things on the planet. It is estimated that the oldest lichen in the world, found in Greenland, is 4,500 years old! This is impressive compared to one of the oldest living trees in the world, at 5,064 years old. o Explorers and travelers ate lichens to sustain themselves when food was scarce. Many Indian tribes ate lichens year round. Some countries like China and Italy still eat lichens, and use them in dishes and teas. *Be careful though! Not all lichens are edible!! The Wolf Lichen (Letharia vulpina) got its name because it was used in Europe to poison wolves. Cases of dogs eating the lichen and dying have occurred too. Indians would also use this lichen to make poison arrowheads. o A couple hundred years ago people used lichens to dye clothes. Lichens are still used to dye scarves and other clothing today. Colors such as yellow, brown, green, orange, purple and red can be extracted from lichens. o Native American Indians used lichens as medicine for dressing wounds. Lichens have potential for anti-tumor properties. Lichens also have antibiotic properties which were of interest during the post-World War II era. It is estimated that 50% of all lichens have antibiotic properties. o Today lichens are used for observing or monitoring air quality in urban areas. This is because lichens are sensitive to air pollution. o Lichens are used in some deodorants, toothpastes, ointments, extracts and perfumes. o We humans also use lichens for decoration in floral arrangements, miniature railroads, and architectural models. Lichens aren’t just useful for humans, they also are useful for animals in the forest. o Animals eat lichens! Deer, elk, moose, caribou, and reindeer are ungulates that eat lichens year round. Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina) got its name because it is the only plant reindeer eat in the wintertime. o Lichens provide shelter for invertebrates that we cannot even see without a dissecting microscope or an electron microscope! o Lichens also serve as nesting material for birds, squirrels, chipmunks, voles, pikas, mice, and bats. The flying squirrel of North America (Glaucomys sabrinus) uses the lichen Bryoria to make its nest. Interesting Bryophyte Uses:
o Mosses were used by Native American Indians for diapers, cloths, bandages, bedding, and sponges. Dry moss can help to light fires as well. o Mosses are some of the first land plants to evolve, about 450 million years ago! |
Glossary:
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Author Citations for Lichens
Lobaria (Schreber) Hoffm. Usnea Dill. ex. Adans. Platismatia Culb. & C. Culb. Peltirgera Willd. Cladonia P.Browne Ramalina Ach. Hypogymnia (Nyl.) Nyl. Pseudocyphellaria Vain. Alectoria Ach. Sphaerophorus Pers. |
Author Citations for Bryophytes
Kindbergia Schimp. Isothecium Brid. Polytrichum Hedw. Dendroalsia E. Britton Plagiomnium T. Kop. Hylocomium Schimp. Homalothecium Schimp. Neckera Hedw. Niphotrichum (Bednarek-Ochyra) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra Leucolepis Lindb. Rhytidiadelphus (Lindb. ex. Limpr.) Warnst. Porella L. |