I know absolutely nothing about identifying lichens, but over time I am determined to learn with the help of some of my natural history buff buddies. For now, however, I will post some pictures I took on the Toe River Club property in case others know the identity of these beautiful organisms.
The first thing I learned in preparing this page is that lichens are not one organism, but a symbiotic combination of two. One is always a fungus, and the other is either an algae or a bacteria. That means that lichens actually are not only two organisms, but organisms from two different kingdoms! We think of them as plants, but if the combination is a fungus and a bacteria, then that combination would not be a plant at all!
Lichen on a rock in front of TRC cabin. [1 Aug 2014]
![LIchen on bark of Black Walnut tree in front of TRC cabin. [1 Aug 2014]](http://sites.duke.edu/toeriverclub/files/2014/08/Walnut-tree-bark.jpg)
LIchen on bark of Black Walnut tree in front of TRC cabin. [1 Aug 2014]
