Arboreal lichens – the ‘leaves’ of winter
In sheltered, humid sites in the Caledonian Forest, the high moisture content in the air encourages the growth of a profusion of lichens on tree trunks and branches. Easy to overlook in summer, when they are hidden by the trees’ leaves, they are much more conspicuous in winter. These lichens act like leaves, using the sun’s energy for photosynthesis, although that is for their own benefit, not the trees.
 Lichens, including beard lichen (Usnea filipendula), oakmoss lichen (Evernia prunastri), ragged lichen (Platismatia glauca) and heather rags lichen (Hypogymnia physodes), on a hazel tree (Corylus avellana) near Dundreggan Lodge.  Lichen-covered branches of oak trees (Quercus petraea) on Dundreggan, with birch trees behind.  Beard lichen, heather rags lichen and ragged lichen on the trunks of silver birch trees (Betula pendula) near Dog Falls in Glen Affric. |
 Beard lichen (Usnea filipendula) and other lichens on the branches of birch trees in the gorge of the Affric River in Glen Affric.  With its large, green-lobed form, the foliose lichen, tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria), seen here on the trunk of a rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia) near Dog Falls in Glen Affric, is the most leaf-like of the lichens in the Caledonian Forest. |
Return to the Caledonian Forest Photo Gallery
Pages about lichens on this site
- Arboreal Lichens - the 'leaves' of winter
- A Liking for Lichens
- Lichens occurring in the Pinewoods in Glen Affric
- Lichens recorded on Dundreggan
- Lichen Survey on Dundreggan, 2009
- The Lichen Ecology of Aspen Woods - A Preliminary Analysis
- The importance of Aspens for lichen
- Epiphytic Lichens on Populus tremula: Implications for Conservation
- Coastal Hazelwoods and their Lichens
- Symbiosis
- Tree lungwort species profile