A lichen is a composite of a fungus, which provides structure, and a photosynthesizing algae or cyanobacterium (or both), which provides nutrients. Like other fungi they assume a wide range of fanciful forms making them very photogenic, especially at the macro level. There are over 600 species in the northwest and they are notoriously hard to classify so I would appreciate any help in refining or correcting my labels.
Lichens, Spencer Spit
Dotted lichen (Bacidia rubella), Shark Reef
Wooden soldiers (Cladonia botrytes), Richardson
Common powder horn (Cladonia conioncraea), Spencer Spit
Common Powderhorn (Cladonia conioncraea), Upright Channel Preserve
Pebbled pixie-cup (Cladonia pyxidata), Kjargaard Road
Pebbled Pixie Cup (Cladonia pyxidata), Richardson Marsh Preserve
Trumpet Lichen (Cladonia fimbriata), Lopez Hill
Lipstick Powderhorn (Cladonia macilenta), Lopez Hill
Maritime Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia portentosa), Chadwick Hill
Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina), Point Colville
Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina), Richardson
Dragon Horn (Cladonia squamosa), Lopez Hill
Dragon Horn (Cladonia squamosa), Kjargaard Road
Volcano Lichen? (Coccotrema maritimum), Point Colville
Pink Earth Lichen (Dibaeis baeomyces), Chadwick Hill
Oakmoss (Evernia prunastri), Kjargaard Road
Textured Lung Lichen (Lobarina scrobiculata), Shark Reef
Lichens on Maple Tree (Ochrolechia laevigata), Kjargaard Road
Ruffle lichen (Parmelia sulfate), Kjargaard Road
Pebbled pixie-cup (Cladonia pyxidata), Kjargaard Road
Lipstick Powderhorn, (Cladonia macilenta)
Budding Tube Lichen (Hypogymnia enteromorpha), Point Colville
Budding Tube Lichen (Hypogymnia enteromorpha) (detail), Point Colville
Dust Lichen, (Lecanora), Hummel Lake Preserve
Rock-shield
Hooded Tune Lichen (Hypogymnia physodes), Point Colville
Common Greenshield Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata), Point Colville
Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), Point Colville
Lichen Agaric (Lichenomphalia umbellifera), Lopez Hill
Salted Shield Lichen (Parmelia saxatilis), Shark Reef
Dog-lichen (Peltigera canina)
Membranous Pelt lichen (Peltigera membranacea), Richardson
Membranous Pelt Lichen (Peltigera membranacea), Point Colville
Membraneous Pelt Lichen (Peltigera membranacea), Lopez Hill
Common Freckle pelt, (Peltigera aphthosa), Richardson
Flaky Freckle pelt (Peltigera britanica), Watmough
Herre's Ragged Lichen (Platismatia herrei), Point Colville
Lace lichen (Ramalina menziesii), Richardson Marsh
Cartilage Lichen (Ramalina farinacea), Kjargaard Road
Globe Ball Lichen (Sphaerophorus globosus), Richardson
Fishbone Beard Lichen (Usnea filipendula), Kjargaard Road
Beard Lichen (Usnea scabrata), Richardson Marsh
Black Tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) Watmough
Cumberland rock shield (Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia), Kjargaard Road
Cumberland rock shield (Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia), Kjargaard Road
Sunburst Lichen (Xanthoria), Richardson Road
Sunburst Lichen (Xanthoria), Richardson
Sunburst Lichen (Xanthoria candelaria), Shark Reef
Shrubby Sunburst Lichen (Xanthoria candelaria), Fisherman Bay Spit
