There are at least fourteen different species of lichen on the University of Washington Seattle Campus. Many are located on the Cypress trees along Memorial Way. Check out
our iNaturalist project to find out where you can see specific species on campus.
Highlighted Species
Antlered Perfume (Evernia prunastri)
- Characterized by soft, light green elongated lobes that are divergently branches
- Lobes can be 1-4 mm wide and up to almost a foot long
- On trees (deciduous and coniferous), shrubs, mostly lower elevations
- Looks like (and is closely related to) spruce moss, which is generally whiter and lighter in color
- Has been used since 16th century to make perfumes, helps the fragrance stay in one spot
- Grows slowly despite its name, which means “sprouting well”
Shield Lichen (Parmelia sulcata)
- Loose, large leaves: 1-3 mm wide
- Pale grey top, black underneath
- Soredia in cracks
- Grows on trees and sometimes rocks
- Prefers shade
- Hummingbirds like to use in nest building
Cup Lichen (Cladonia fimbriata)
- Very small lobes (0.5-5 mm)
- Close together, overlapping groups
- Green-grey with white lower surface
- Grows on: soil, moss, trees, logs, all altitudes
- Very common
- Scales curve up around the edges
- Can have tiny powdery balls called soredia on them
Tube Lichen (Hypogymnia physodes)
- Lobes 1-2 mm wide
- Hollow
- Sorendia on inside of lobe tips
- Green- gray, light/pale
- Grows on trees, generally in association with moss
- Attached to twigs and bark by rhizomes
- Likes shady to moderately lit areas
- Very tolerant of pollution, therefore common in cities and suburbs
Candelaria concolor
- Yellow to bright green and powdery
- Grows on branches and shrubs
- Looks like it is crustose, but it actually has rhizines so it’s foliose
- One of the most common small foliose lichens
- Relatively tolerant of pollution
- Common in coastal regions
- Environment Hamilton is training high school students to use this lichen to monitor air pollution in neighborhoods by measuring the density and distribution over time
Other species you may find*:
Cetratia chlorophylla, Hypogymnia physodes,
Physcia tenella, Ramalina farinacea, Scoliciosporum sarothamni, and
Melanelia exasperatula
*From documented observations in the Burke Museum's archives
Great informative page!
ReplyDeleteAmy --> trees/shrubs