Cape Cod Lichens
Each type of lichen is actually a composite of two different organisms: a fungus and an alga (or less commonly a fungus and a yeast or a cyanobacterium). The fungal partner within each species of lichen is unique, but a single species of algae can be found in many different lichens. It is therefore the fungal partner, also known as the mycobiont, from which the lichen’s name is derived. To help differentiate lichens from each other, it’s helpful to consider…