The photograph below shows hawthorn branches encrusted in various different lichens. Trees are not just trees, but living ecosystems in their own right.
There are at least eight different lichens here, and these are all on the same tree! It is estimated that there are 1,165 species lichens growing in Ireland, so maybe eight on one tree isn’t that many after all!
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Murtagh's Meadow 
Brilliant – I just love lichen – what a perfect response to the prompt ‘Encrusted’. In another life I would like to be a lichenologist!
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There are so many of them to learn to identify, it would be a challenging job!
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It would! and it would take you all over the world – lichens adapt themselves to so many different environments – I’m sure they hold genetic material that could help us in some way. Not to mention their gorgeous textures and colours for endless crafting inspiration.
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The more the lichen, the cleaner the air – glad to see we’ve got a couple of varieties on our windowsill!
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We have an old car and there is even a tiny bit of lichen growing on that!!! ( We don’t was it very often!!)
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I have lichen growing on the car I drive – I can’t bear to clean it off!
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Glad to hear it is not just me!!
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Beautiful! I love them too, but I did not know there were so many different lichens!
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I was surprised myself when i found the figures!
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Well, I never. Can you see the 8 different types? Wish I could see lichen on my car to prove how clean the air is. Although we do have quite a bit on the roof. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the lichens could be the source of medicines. Clever old supportive trees
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I am sure they could. I have an idea in my head that one species is used as a dye.
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I love lichen. They colonize trees and rocks a lot around here, too. Their texture and color are wonderful!
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The variety of texture and colour is just amazing.
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They become even more beautiful early in the morning with dew al over them. Not many Lichen here, yep air quality is poor here.
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Will have to look out for such a morning to go and take some more photos.
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Beautiful, K!
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Thank you:)
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