Lichen may seem rather dull to the untrained mind. "What is that mold?" one might ask. Well sort of but not actually. Lichen are more complicated than most things in the living world. They are neither plant, nor animal, nor fungus exactly. Lichen exist within a grey spectrum of existence much like us. They are a composite life-form (a bit like us) which has evolved out of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microorganism--an algae or a bacteria. The fungus providing raw nutrients and the microorganism providing sugars. Lichen exist in some of the most extreme environments in the world from tundra to desert to toxic slag heaps and they come in some of the most fantastic colors one could hope to see. Lichens have been utilized by humans for making dyes, perfumes, and traditional medicines long before we started manufacturing our own (and without all that toxic pollution!). What one might think of as dull is a whole universe of exciting conception to another.
These photos by our friend Gordon J. McNaughton were taken in Eastern Washington on a recent excursion into the depths of outer existence. Much was discovered along with these photographs.
An eye for composition! Terrific color-balance! A thoughtful patina!
ReplyDeleteMy, lichen is a wonder, outer or inner, out there or on here.
"Composite Lifeforms make Art out of Stone"
ReplyDeleteProof of intelligent life right under our noses. Where is the National Enquirer when you need it?
It's also recently been proposed (we're waiting for conclusive evidence) that humans--the solar system's least explained composite lifeform--not only exist, but have begun to create. In parts of Yemen they've unearthed bones thought to belong to homo sapiens sapiens, a creature heretofore only mentioned in ancient stone-to-stone non-oral traditions.
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