By Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
I was struck by the beautifully intricate pattern on this lichen (or is it a fungus?), spotted 12/19/20 on a nurse log at the Happy Valley State Trust Land (see Locations).
I know next to nothing about lichens. Any ideas?
It’s my best guess that you have found a beautiful example of a rot fungus. It’s consuming the cellulose in this partially decomposed log, moving it along in its cycle back to earth.
Lichens typically don’t utilize their host other than just as a residence. The fungal portion will absorb minerals from the rocks or soil, but at a very slow rate. The algae have chlorophyll which allows them to manufacture carbohydrates which they supply to support their fungal partner’s growth.
I had some ambivalence about whether this was a fungus or a lichen. I thought about sending you the image first, but then decided it would make a good ID Me post. Thanks for the response! I hope we get a few more folks to weigh in on it.
I do hope some others will feel welcome to! I’m an enthusiastic amateur naturalist – a dangerous person to rely on!!