Composite organisms consisting of a fungal component (mycobiont) and an algal component (phycobiont). The mycobiont seems to play a major morphogenetic role and the phycobiont is the photosynthetic partner. The association originated separately among a number of different groups of fungi with different algae, suggesting that lichens are polyphyletic in origin.
For information on how lichens are studied as bioindicators click here to search the files at Global Lab. The Director of the Laboratory can be reached at http://hub.terc.edu:70/hub/owner/TERC
Leprose Lichen | Crustose Lichen | Foliose Lichen | Fruticose Lichen
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