In this fascinating
article, horticultur-
ist and science writer
Laura Wyeth explores the
truly enthralling biology of
lichens, simultaneously vulner-
able and cannily adaptive organ-
isms. The next time a city resident
asks you whether lichens are harmful
to trees, share this piece with them!
Also recommended is this
blog post from
Washington State Urban Forestry in which
a concerned resident sends in a branch with
what turns out to be more than six kinds of
harmless lichen. The post also answers the
question, "What are eutrophic lichens, and
why are they found in cities?"
—Michelle Sutton, Ed.
Multiple types of lichen on one small branch. Photo by Flickr user Jim McCulloch | CC BY 2.0
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Factories, Factories,
