Lichens

Crustose Lichen
Sulphur-firedot lichen (Caloplaca flavovirescens), a crustose lichen

NPS Photo

If you visit a rock outcrop in Shenandoah National Park you are sure to find lichens. Lichens are a specific group of fungi unique because of their symbiotic relationship with green algae. In this relationship, the algae provide carbohydrates from photosynthesis to the fungus, while the fungus provides nutrients from decomposition to the algae.

Lichens are the first colonist on exposed rock. They secrete acids that gradually break down the rock surface on which they grow, contributing to soil development. Lichens grow extremely slowly, adding only 0.1 mm to 10 mm of growth per year. Much of the mineral nutrition needed by lichens is obtained from the surrounding air and precipitation to which they are exposed. For this reason, lichens are extremely sensitive to poor air quality, especially sulfur dioxide pollution.

 
Foliose Lichen
Smooth lungwort (Lobaria quercizans), a foliose lichen

NPS Photo

Lichens come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They can grow flat against a smooth surface (crustose), extend from a surface like leaves (foliose), or form branched projections (fruticose). Common colors include black, white, orange, yellow, red, brown, and green. Two hundred and seventy-nine species of lichen are known from Shenandoah National Park. Two of these species, map lichen (Rhizocarpon geographicum), and black crust (Melinelia stigia) are extremely rare in Virginia and found only on rock outcrops in the central district of the park. Other notable lichens within the park include the green foliose boulder lichen (Parmelia spp.) commonly seen on trees and rocks. And the large brown oval leaf-like projections of rock tripe (Umbilicaria spp.) often seen on large forest boulders.

Related Information

The Smithsonian Lichen Collection

Brodo, I.M. S.D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.

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Last updated: March 5, 2019

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Shenandoah National Park
3655 U.S. Highway 211 East

Luray, VA 22835

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540 999-3500
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