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Lichen Community

The tangle looked thick like these two lichens competed for the same space. Hypogmnia held close to the wood while Usnea bowed like long hair curls. Lichens lack internal organs like nerves or blood vessels. Each is composed of what amounts to a colony of individuals. A fungus forms the structure, and numerous algae cells photosynthesis sugars to feed the pair. The strands of fungus form a network that communicates across the plant. Some fungi in soils connect trees, creating a network for communication between trees. What might be happening within these two lichens? I put my ear right against the clump, but even with my hearing aids turned up, I could not catch any conversations.

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Lichen Community-Deception Pass State Park-Skagit County--5.jpg
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@ Thomas Bancroft
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2500x1668 / 1.7MB
Contained in galleries
Bryophytes - Deception Pass State Park
The tangle looked thick like these two lichens competed for the same space. Hypogmnia held close to the wood while Usnea bowed like long hair curls. Lichens lack internal organs like nerves or blood vessels. Each is composed of what amounts to a colony of individuals. A fungus forms the structure, and numerous algae cells photosynthesis sugars to feed the pair. The strands of fungus form a network that communicates across the plant. Some fungi in soils connect trees, creating a network for communication between trees. What might be happening within these two lichens? I put my ear right against the clump, but even with my hearing aids turned up, I could not catch any conversations.