Question

Are there poisonous lichens?

Answer 1

Lichens

1. Lichens are composite organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi.
2. Algal or cyanobacteria species are present mutually in the filaments of multiple fungal species.
3. The dominant fungi provide shelter and safety to the algae while the algae supply it with nutrients that it makes through photosynthesis.
4. Foliose, Fruticose, and Crustose are the three main types of lichens.
5. There are some poisonous lichens found in nature.
6. Some examples of poisonous lichens include wolf lichen (Letharia vulpina), ground lichen (Parmelia molliuscula), and horsehair lichen (Bryoria tortuosa).
7. They have a high amount of vulpinic acid which is a highly toxic yellow pigment harmful to animals and humans.