In Episode 11 of the Plants are People too Podcast we talk with Chris Schorn, Botanist and Senior Land Steward at Midcoast Conservancy in Maine. Chris discusses lichen species like Lobaria and Cladonia as well as a little on other Maine botanical subjects.
In this podcast, Chris discusses a few of the unique Maine habitats, some special flora of the midcoast maine area (Gentianopsis crinita, Lomatogonium, and Carex), land stewardship, and regional lichen species identification and terminology.
Lichens may seem visually similar to plants, but interestingly this special symbiotic relationship is formed between two completely different kingdoms of organisms (Protista and Fungi) and not a plant at all. Winter is a categorically boring time of year for botanists in the Northeast. So, if the snow has covered all the Lycopodiella and Spinulum species you were hoping to study this January, tune in and learn a little about the rich diversity of lichens on the New England landscape. Enjoy!