Erect Skin Lichen: A Fascinating Native Species You’ll Find in Your Landscape
Have you ever noticed small, leafy-looking growths on the bark of trees in your yard and wondered what they were? You might be looking at erect skin lichen (Leptogium erectum), one of North America’s fascinating native species that quietly plays an important role in our ecosystems.
What Exactly Is Erect Skin Lichen?
Despite its name suggesting it’s a plant, erect skin lichen is actually a remarkable partnership between a fungus and an alga (or sometimes cyanobacteria). This symbiotic relationship creates what we see as a single organism – the lichen. Think of it as nature’s perfect roommate situation, where both partners benefit from living together!
Leptogium erectum gets its erect skin common name from its distinctive appearance. The lichen forms small, leafy structures called thalli that have a somewhat skin-like texture and tend to grow upright or perpendicular from the surface they’re attached to.
Where You’ll Find This Native Species
Erect skin lichen is native to North America, with populations found primarily throughout eastern and central regions of the continent. It’s particularly common in deciduous forest environments where it has access to the clean air and moderate humidity it requires to thrive.
Identifying Erect Skin Lichen
Spotting erect skin lichen in your landscape is easier once you know what to look for:
- Color: Blue-green to gray-green, sometimes appearing almost silvery
- Shape: Small, leafy lobes that grow upright from tree bark
- Texture: Smooth and somewhat gelatinous when wet, becoming more papery when dry
- Size: Individual thalli are typically small, usually just a few centimeters across
- Location: Most commonly found growing on the bark of deciduous trees
Is Erect Skin Lichen Beneficial to Your Garden?
While you can’t plant or cultivate erect skin lichen like traditional garden plants, its presence in your landscape is actually a wonderful sign! Here’s why you should be happy to see it:
Air Quality Indicator: Lichens are incredibly sensitive to air pollution, so finding erect skin lichen growing in your area indicates that your local air quality is relatively good. Think of them as nature’s air quality monitors!
Ecosystem Support: Though small, these lichens contribute to the broader ecosystem. They help with nutrient cycling and provide habitat for tiny creatures like mites and other microorganisms.
No Harm to Trees: Unlike some organisms that grow on trees, erect skin lichen doesn’t harm its host. It’s simply using the bark as a place to live, not extracting nutrients from the tree itself.
Why You Can’t (And Shouldn’t Try to) Grow It
Unlike the plants in your garden beds, erect skin lichen can’t be cultivated through traditional gardening methods. Here’s why:
- Lichens require very specific environmental conditions that are difficult to replicate artificially
- They grow extremely slowly – we’re talking years to develop visible colonies
- They need clean air and specific humidity levels to survive
- The symbiotic relationship between fungus and alga is complex and sensitive
How to Encourage Lichen Diversity in Your Landscape
While you can’t plant erect skin lichen directly, you can create conditions that make your property more hospitable to lichens in general:
- Avoid chemical treatments: Pesticides and fungicides can harm lichens
- Maintain air quality: Support clean air initiatives in your community
- Preserve mature trees: Older trees with established bark provide the best lichen habitat
- Minimize disturbance: Avoid scraping or cleaning lichen-covered bark unnecessarily
The Bottom Line
Erect skin lichen might not be the showstopper that your prize roses are, but it’s a valuable native species that deserves recognition and protection. If you spot these small, leafy lichens growing on trees in your landscape, take a moment to appreciate them as indicators of a healthy environment. They’re proof that your little corner of the world is supporting the intricate web of life that makes up our native ecosystems.
Remember, the best way to support erect skin lichen and other native species is simply to be mindful of their presence and avoid practices that might harm them. Sometimes the most important gardening action is knowing when not to intervene!
