I was standing at the information desk, in the foyer of Lakewoods Resort, when the lichenologist returned from the field. Matt Nelsen is a postdoctoral researcher at the Field Museum in Chicago, and ... The Inlander: EWU professor Jessica Allen studies the diverse world of lichens.

Understanding the Context

Two species she discovered are named after famous women Lichen is everywhere. It grows on sidewalks, rocks, trees, roofs and undistributed soil and in frigid tundras, arid deserts and even contaminated environments. You just have to look for it, says ... EWU professor Jessica Allen studies the diverse world of lichens.

Key Insights

Two species she discovered are named after famous women For thousands of years, lichens have quietly shaped Michigan’s landscapes—and their work is far from finished. I’m alone on a 2-billion-year-old basalt cliff among ancient living organisms that are ... The New York Times: Your Garden Isn’t Winding Down: It’s Still Lichen Season After the distraction of fall leaves has passed, don’t assume that your garden is dormant. It’s time to appreciate the beauty of lichen. By Margaret Roach What are lichens?

Final Thoughts

They are neither plant nor ... Lichens are highly specialized symbioses between heterotrophic fungi and photoautotrophic green algae or cyanobacteria. The mycobionts of many lichens produce morphologically complex thalli to house ...