Welcome to Catnapin's

The Cryptogams Gallery

Lichen

Lichens are symbiotic; a fungus plus an algae (green, blue-green or both).  The algae produces photosynthesis that feeds the fungus.  The fungus provides an environment for the algae to live away from water.  Lichens come in a myriad of colors and shapes, some even look like mushrooms or moss.  Most Lichens in West Texas are small, but in cool wet regions large colonies hang from trees.

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? Common Name **zl 1** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies grow on soil between limestone gravel.  The white flat pads can be 1/2" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July & November 2002

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possibly   Sulphur-firedot **zl 2** Caloplaca flavovirescens

White & orange lichen on north side of mesquite tree.  Yellow is a moss.  Largest orange part is about 3/16" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2004

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 3** Scientific Name

Yellow & orange lichen on limestone boulders.  Colonies 1"-15" wide.  Colonies have orange centers that are very tiny flats.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, November 2004

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? Common Name **zl 4** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies grow on limestone.  Center parts are light green outer parts are white.  The white flat pads can be 12" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, December 2004

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**zl 5**

orange = (possibly ? Common Name) Scientific Name

white = (possibly ? Common Name) Scientific Name

Lichen colony is on limestone.  The "fronds" are about 1/16" tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, January 2005

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 6** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies grow on limestone.  The bulbous white pads are about 1/8" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, December 2004

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 7** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies grow on limestone.  1/4" wide pads are red with white edges and round red balls.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, December 2004, July 2005

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 8** Scientific Name>

Lichen colonies grow on oak trunks.  The white crinkly pads can be 1/2" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, January 2005

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possibly   Smooth Shadow-crust Lichen **zl 9** Hyperphyscia syncolla

Lichen colonies grow on dead wood.  Light olive green with dark red centers.  Pads up to 1/8" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, March & July 2005

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 10** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies grow on oak trunk.  The white flat pads with red centers can be 1/4" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, January 2005

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 11** Scientific Name

Lichen colonies on limestone in full sun.  Most are less than 1/4" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, August 2005

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 12** Scientific Name

Lichen colony on iron pipe, about 3" wide, reaches halfway around both sides.

Photos taken in Van Zandt County, Texas, November 2006

(Native ?)

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? Common Name **zl 13** Scientific Name

Lichen colony on dead wood.  Gray patches about 1/8" wide.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, February 2007

(Native ?)