Cylindric Navel Lichen: A Fascinating Natural Visitor to Your Garden
Have you ever noticed peculiar, coin-shaped growths on rocks or tree bark in your yard and wondered what they might be? You might have encountered the cylindric navel lichen (Umbilicaria cylindrica), a remarkable organism that’s neither plant nor animal, but something wonderfully unique in between.
What Exactly Is a Cylindric Navel Lichen?
Despite its name suggesting it’s a plant, cylindric navel lichen is actually a lichen – a fascinating partnership between fungi and algae working together in perfect harmony. The fungal partner provides structure and protection, while the algae produce food through photosynthesis. It’s like nature’s own little cooperative living arrangement!
Also known scientifically as Umbilicaria cylindrica (formerly called Gyrophora cylindrica), this lichen gets its navel name from its distinctive attachment point – a single central spot that looks remarkably like a belly button connecting it to its rocky or woody home.
Where You’ll Find This Northern Beauty
Cylindric navel lichen is a native North American species that feels most at home in the cooler regions of Canada and the northern United States. It thrives in boreal forests and mountainous areas where the air is clean and the climate is on the chillier side.
Spotting Cylindric Navel Lichen in Your Garden
Identifying this lichen is quite straightforward once you know what to look for:
- Circular, disc-like appearance ranging from gray to brownish in color
- Distinctive single attachment point in the center (the navel)
- Smooth or slightly wrinkled surface texture
- Size typically ranging from 1-4 inches across
- Found growing on rocks, boulders, or occasionally tree bark
Is It Beneficial for Your Garden?
While you can’t exactly plant cylindric navel lichen like you would a tomato or rose bush, its presence in your garden is actually a wonderful sign! Lichens are incredibly sensitive to air pollution, so finding them indicates that your local air quality is quite good. Think of them as nature’s air quality monitors.
These lichens also play important ecological roles:
- They help break down rocks over time, contributing to soil formation
- They provide food for various wildlife species
- They contribute to the overall biodiversity of your garden ecosystem
Can You Grow Cylindric Navel Lichen?
Here’s where things get interesting – you can’t really grow lichens in the traditional gardening sense. They’re not seeds you can plant or cuttings you can root. Lichens appear naturally when conditions are just right, which includes clean air, appropriate humidity levels, and suitable surfaces to colonize.
If you’re lucky enough to have cylindric navel lichen in your garden, the best thing you can do is simply appreciate it and avoid disturbing it. These slow-growing organisms can take years to establish themselves, so they deserve our respect and protection.
Creating Lichen-Friendly Conditions
While you can’t plant lichens directly, you can create conditions that might encourage their natural appearance:
- Maintain good air quality around your property
- Provide suitable surfaces like natural stone features or mature trees
- Avoid using harsh chemicals or pesticides that might harm these sensitive organisms
- Be patient – lichens grow very slowly and may take years to establish
The Bottom Line
Cylindric navel lichen isn’t something you’ll find at your local garden center, and that’s perfectly okay! If this fascinating organism chooses to make your garden its home, consider yourself fortunate. Its presence indicates a healthy, clean environment – something every gardener should celebrate. Rather than trying to cultivate it, simply enjoy observing this remarkable example of nature’s ingenuity and cooperation.
Remember, the best gardens aren’t just about what we plant, but also about welcoming and appreciating the incredible diversity of life that chooses to visit us naturally.
