When you hear the word lichen, maybe some fungus comes to mind. If you worry about lichen on your trees, you don’t need to be. Lichens don’t breach any tissue, developing only on the surface of your tree.
In reality, lichens are mixtures of fungal tissue and green algae. The alga creates food for the pair while the fungus absorbs moisture. This mutual arrangement aids both the surrounding system and creatures.
Lichens thrive where the conditions are favorable. They need light to grow, and they love moisture, so they’ll stick to tree trunks in place with sunshine and dampness.
Is Lichen on Trees Dangerous?
No. Those gray spots don’t feed on your trees. Because lichen is capable of making its food using sun and moisture, it doesn’t need to eat other plants. Instead, lichens use the limbs and trunks for support. They also don’t cause tree illnesses.
It’s typical for lichen to emerge on unhealthy trees. Trees that are decaying or stressed frequently have a slim canopy. Fewer limbs and leaves translate to more sunshine on the tree trunk. This process is what lichens necessitate to develop.
A lot of folks don’t mind having lichens on the bark of their trees. Lichens play a significant role in the tree world. For instance, they work as air pollution indicators, enduring severe conditions like freezing or extreme heat.
If an area is infected, lichens become scarce and ultimately stop developing. Additionally, lichens help control the arrangement of gases in the earth’s atmosphere. Every organism works like a sponge to absorb and store extra gases, one being carbon dioxide.
Lichens aid in filtering the air we breathe. Some lichen possesses the ability to put nitrogen back in the soil. These are just a couple of essential roles lichens have been discovered to perform. As studies continue, more information will come to the forefront. There’s no telling what will come to mind in the future when you hear the word lichen.
Call us today to schedule a comprehensive tree inspection or specialized tree care from our certified and experienced arborists at Tampa Tree Service.
