Lobaria
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Lobaria hallii |
Lobaria is a genus of lichens commonly known as "lungwort" or "lung moss" because their physical shape somewhat resembles a lung. Lobaria species are unusual in that they have a three-part symbiosis, containing a fungus, an alga and a cyanobacterium, the presence of the cyanobacterium allowing nitrogen fixation. Their sensitivity to toxins makes them an excellent marker of ecosystem health, and they are often found in ecological climax communities such as the old growth forests of northwestern North America.
Under the doctrine of signatures, Lobaria pulmonaria is sometimes used to treat respiratory infections, although there is no peer-reviewed data to support this.
