Lichens are fascinating organisms that attach themselves to tree bark (see photo above), rocks, and soil and cover 6-8% of the Earth’s land surface, yet they are unknown to most people. Lichens are a combination of a fungus and an alga, and more than 700 kinds of lichen have been found in Ohio. Join me on Friday, September 16 at a meeting of the Burroughs Nature Club for a guided tour of the world of lichens: what they are, where to find them, how they live and reproduce, tips for identifying lichens, lichen field guides, and their use as animal food and nesting material, as indicators of air quality, as a source for clothing dyes, and their importance in soil formation and enrichment.
The program will be held on Friday, September 16, at 7:30 pm at the Willoughby United Methodist Church, 15 E. Spalding Street, Willoughby, Ohio 44094.