Talk:Lichen

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I always thought the plural was simply "lichen", but shouldn't this be at the singular anyway? Tokerboy

I'm sure there is some linguistic reason why we want the plural to be "lichen" -- it's a common mistake. But the plural is "lichens." Psora 20:08, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Picture arrangement

You may have noticed that it seldom works out very well to have lots of pictures evenly registered along one side, as that sort of sets the amount of text that needs to be present in each section. I like all the pictures, but arrangementg with some on the bottom may be a better arrangement. - Marshman 06:01, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, lots of pictures here.--HisSpaceResearch 09:48, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

Either a gallery can be added or some will have to go, but it is a bit much they way it is now. 130.216.191.182 06:07, 19 March 2007 (UTC)

I've moved all but a few of the pictures to a photo gallery at the bottom of the article, and placed the remaining ones in pertinent sections. If you can place the gallery in a better position (I'm not sure what the convention is), then please do so. --MithrandirMage 03:12, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] examples?

Would someone be kind enough to provide a short list of common lichens with the taxonomy of their component fungi and algae? Such as reindeer moss and Iceland moss and Wolf moss and so forth? Or links if this is more practical? NaySay 15:42, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

There certainly should come some lists of lichens... It is however extremely hard to compile a list of common lichens for a very simple reason: lichens common in Brazil are not common in England, lichens common in Australia are not common in USA etc! And second, such list would become far too long (if not extremely subjective) to put into this general article... So far, please see Category:Lichens for the currently existing articles. Kaarel 19:15, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

That needn't be an issue. This is English Wiki, so providing examples which might be accessible to most English-speakers--England, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand--would be a good start. For example, Reindeer moss, which is certainly well known in many locales. And there are lichens which have relatively greater economic importance, such as oakmoss (used in perfumery and found throughout the Northern hemisphere) or reindeer lichen (which is used for food.)NaySay 15:14, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Brown algae & yellow-green algae as phycobionts

A paragraph was added saying some lichens have brown algae and yellow-green algal as phycobionts. Which lichens? Where is the reference?Heliocybe 18:46, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Many photobionts have been proposed in a rather speculative manor (e.g. [1]). However, if you think these claims are unsupported, please feel free to boldly change the article. It could use it. Thanks, Wachholder 06:14, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Lichen Speed of Growth

I know lichens are very slow growing, but how slow? I'd like to see information on the relative speed of growth as it varies with type and climate. BeeTea 03:07, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

According to Mason Hale, Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, Vol. 86, No. 2 (Mar. - Apr., 1959), pp. 126-129 (doi:10.2307/2482993), "the foliose species Parmelia isidiata has grown regularly at the rate of 1.6 mm. per year in radius," while "crustose species increased in radius from .33 to 1.4 mm. per year." This was in Connecticut. Fruticose lichens can grow quite a bit faster. I too would like to see an extensive review of the biogeography of lichen growth rates. See here and here if you want to get started on that. Thanks! Wachholder 09:28, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Form and Morphology

Aren't "form" and "morphology" redundant? Also I don't think the third paragraph, possible parasitism relates to this topic; it could be consolidated with the mention of the same thing in the first section. --Ericjs 03:13, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed image of lichen at gull colony

Gull colony with Caloplaca and/or Xanthoria (Teloschistaceae). The liched are the orange area. the white area are bird droppings.

Hi, I was wondering if it could be useful to illustrate this article with this image? -- Slaunger (talk) 13:06, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

I would argue against using this image, as it could confuse the viewer as both lichens and bird droppings are pictured (requiring a special comment in the description). The existing images of lichens are fine. Your image has found a good use in the Greenland article. -- MightyWarrior (talk) 11:33, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

OK. Thank you for taking to time to consider it and comment on it. Personally I find it interesting with the Xanthoria and/or Caloplaca specialized to the nutritious environment. But perhaps this would be more relevant in s more specialized contaxt dealing with those lichen families and/or deling with lichen adapted to special environments. -- Slaunger (talk) 11:49, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Pronounciation

I am not a native speaker of English, so I looked up the word's pronunciation and while this page says it's /laɪ.kən/, my Cambridge Dictionary says it's /lɪtʃ.ən/, also saying that /laɪ.kən/ is American way of saying it? Is this true? 84.50.228.110 (talk) 20:00, 18 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Coxson 1990

Please add the appropriate reference.Heliocybe (talk) 19:08, 15 May 2008 (UTC)