Sunday, November 29, 2015

Finding Lichens

Right here along our old stone fencerow we have lots of lichen-covered boulders, and a few logs and old beans, also lichen-covered.  In addition every now and then I find interesting lichens on our hikes, though I don't usually carry my macro lens to capture close-ups.  Here are a few of the interesting ones I've seen the past few weeks.

I don't actually stop to look too closely as I walk by boulders like this.  I just notice the general interesting pattern, so easily visible at this time of year.

Even when you do look closely, you may not appreciate the details, at least with my vision!  But you can tell it's not a uniform pattern.

But if you get really close, you find these interesting tiny fruiting bodies, like open cups, some even with a bit of water sitting in them.  Generally these lichens are more or less flat on the rocks.

On the old wooden beams we have sitting out there, a different type of lichen has spread.  I noticed this patch of pinkish colour in the otherwise bluish lichen, though the actual growth form doesn't look different.

And here's a really close look at that pattern.

Other lichens form a little forest of thin stems.  I'm not sure I've ever really seen this one closely before.

This one, found on our Spirit Rock hike the week before last, is quite different.  I has wider flat 'leaves', brown on top, and white underneath, but the white shows as the lichen leaves curl up.  It seems to grow on top of the moss.

And I found another huge patch of Pixie Cups along our fencerow, of course growing in a position that was really awkward to photograph!

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22 comments:

  1. Some of those lichens look like they are from another planet. Especially that last picture: could have come from an alien movie! :-)

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  2. Very pretty! I really like the little cups in the last one.

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  3. There are so many different kinds. I do like the Pixie Cups. We have some growing on our floating logs at the cabin. - Margy

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  4. Macro photography can sure open up a whole new world we do not normally see. Good stuff......

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  5. Love all your macro shots of the lichen!

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  6. That's right up my alley! I would love this kind of walk.

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  7. I love lichens, moss and fungi....some of my favourite things to photograph...thanks for sharing!

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  8. wonderful images! I have always found lichens fascinating!

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  9. Interesting stuff. Around here they are particularly common on old gravestones and churchyard walls.

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  10. Great photos! The last one is my favorite
    Have a wonderful week!
    Lea

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  11. Amazing the things you can see if you just take the time to notice.
    Wonderful Pictures.

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  12. Very interesting formations of lichens. And the closeups are awesome.

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  13. I think lichens are amazing! Nice photography!

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  14. Lovely to see your lichen.
    I am just starting to learn the tiniest bit about them.
    With my eyesight too, a macro lens really brings them to life so that i can see their beauty in details.

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  15. You really did capture a large variety of lichen. The rocks remind me of some of the ones that I see on Lake Superior along the north shore. Great shots.

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  16. Love the Pixie cups, they are so cute

    Mollyxxx

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  17. Amazing details. The pinkish blueish lichen close up looks like fall leaves to me.

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  18. Wonderful photos . I like things like this to and love photographing the strange and unusual of nature . They look like something from the sea bed barnacles or some thing like that !. Thanks for sharing , have a good day !

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  19. Oh wow! Those close ups are fabulous!

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  20. it's good to stop and "enjoy the lichens"!!!!!

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