Sarah Brown
Mushrooms and lichens are often associated with ancient taboos, magic, and medicine. They are also used for culinary and ornamental purposes. Lichens are neither fungi nor plants—they are both. The outer skin and internal structure of a lichen are made of strands of fungal hyphae, and interspersed among the strands inside the lichen are individual cells of algae. Lichens are named for the fungus species rather than the type of algae in the partnership, as the fungus is the more conspicuous member. Mushrooms, on the other hand, are a type of fungus that can come in many shapes, sizes, and colours. They are typically round in shape and release spores when the time is right. So, are mushrooms lichen?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are fungi that grow out of the soil like plants. |
| Lichens are symbiotic colonies of fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. | |
| Microscopic appearance | Mushrooms are made of fibres that look woven together. |
| Lichens are white and cottony with green dots (algal cells) when viewed under a microscope. | |
| Growth | Mushrooms produce spores that drift around. |
| Lichens can grow in a variety of habitats like tree barks, rocks, walls, exposed soil surfaces, etc. | |
| Reproduction | Lichens may reproduce asexually. |
| Some lichens have lost the ability to reproduce sexually. | |
| Food | Mushrooms are edible. |
| Lichens produce their own energy through photosynthesis. | |
| Pollution | Lichens are excellent indicators of pollution. |
| Sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere destroys lichens. |
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What You'll Learn
Lichens are a symbiosis of fungi and algae
Lichens are miniature plant-like organisms that are neither fungi nor plants, but are actually a combination of both. They are a symbiosis or mutualistic relationship between two different organisms: a fungus and an alga. The outer skin and internal structure of a lichen are made of strands of fungal hyphae, while the spaces between these strands are filled with individual cells of algae. The fungus provides a home for the alga, protecting it from predators and providing some climate control. In turn, the alga is exposed to sunlight, which benefits the fungus.
Lichens typically consist of one species of fungus and one to two species of algae. The algal partner can be a species of green algae (Chlorophyta) or a cyanobacterium (Cyanophyta, formerly known as blue-green algae). Lichens are named for the fungus species, as it is the more conspicuous member. Some lichens contain additional microbes, and their entire structure could be considered its own tiny ecosystem.
Lichens come in a variety of colours, including bright yellow, red, orange, green, black, brown, silver, and grey. They can be flat and leaf-like ("foliose"), or have a central stem with small branches that give them the appearance of a dwarf shrub ("fruticose"). Some lichens grow embedded in rocks or cliffs and cannot be removed without breaking off a piece of their substrate. These "crustose" lichens are especially resistant to herbivory. The many colours of lichens help protect them from too much sunlight or low temperatures.
Lichens occur in almost every habitat, from the Arctic to deserts, grasslands, and forests. They are particularly diverse in coastal areas, the canopy of temperate rainforests, and montane tropical cloud forests. Lichens can even be found in extreme environments like wind-blasted mountain cliffs, arctic boulder fields, and deserts, where other plants cannot survive. They frequently grow on rocks, bark, leaves, soil, and even other lichens. Lichens have also been found on the larvae of lacewing insects, where they help with camouflage and disperse asexual lichen soredia (spore-like bits of lichen and algae).
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Lichens are used in traditional medicine
Mushrooms and lichens are two different organisms. While mushrooms are fungi, lichens are composite organisms that arise from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and photosynthetic partners such as green algae or cyanobacteria. Lichens are used in traditional medicines by cultures across the world, particularly in temperate and arctic regions.
Traditional Medicinal Uses of Lichens
Lichens have been used for medicinal purposes by various cultures around the world. The knowledge of these medicinal uses has been passed down through traditional knowledge holders in these cultures. Different regions tend to emphasize different lichen genera in their traditional medicines, with Usnea being the most widely used genus. The folk taxonomy of lichens within a culture reflects the cultural value attached to those lichens and the traditional method of their identification. Lichens have been used to treat wounds, skin disorders, respiratory and digestive issues, and obstetric and gynecological concerns.
Medicinal Properties of Lichens
The medicinal properties of lichens are often attributed to the secondary compounds produced by lichen thalli. These compounds are unique to lichens, and many exhibit antibiotic properties. Lichens have been found to be effective in killing Gram-positive bacteria responsible for causing boils, scarlet fever, and pneumonia. Usnea, for example, contains usnic acid, a potent lichen antibiotic. Usnea has been used in the United States to treat fungal infections in various parts of the body and in Finland for wounds, skin eruptions, and athlete's foot. Wolf lichens, though toxic, were used by indigenous people in North California and Southern British Columbia to treat sores and inflammation, and even consumed internally as medicine.
Historical Uses of Lichens in Medicine
The use of lichens in medicine has a long history, with various studies and reviews documenting their traditional uses in different parts of the world. For example, Sharnoff (1997) compiled the first global review of lichen uses, which was later added to by Crawford (2007). Upreti and Chatterjee (2007) reviewed the medicinal uses of lichens in India, and there are records of lichens being used as medicine in ancient Egypt.
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Lichens are miniature but diverse
Lichens are not plants, nor are they fungi or mosses, though they may look like these. Lichens do not have roots that absorb water and nutrients as plants do, but like plants, they produce their own energy through photosynthesis. Lichens can be found in a variety of habitats, including tree bark, rocks, walls, exposed soil surfaces, rubber, bones, and in the soil as part of biological soil crusts. They can even live inside solid rock, growing between the grains. Lichens are abundant in rainforests and in temperate woodlands, hanging from branches and growing on bark, leaves, mosses, or other lichens.
Lichens come in many colours, sizes, and forms. They may have tiny, leafless branches (fruticose); flat leaf-like structures (foliose); grow crust-like, adhering tightly to a surface (substrate) like a thick coat of paint (crustose); have a powder-like appearance (leprose); or other growth forms. Macrolichens are lichens that are either bush-like or leafy, while all other lichens are termed microlichens. Here, "macro" and "micro" refer to the growth form, not the size. Lichens are also diverse in that they can be long-lived, with some considered to be among the oldest living things.
Lichens are keystone species in many ecosystems and are important to the ecosystem because they can convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into oxygen through photosynthesis. They are also beneficial to humans as they can absorb atmospheric pollutants such as heavy metals, carbon, or sulphur. Lichens are also excellent indicators of pollution as they are very sensitive to sulphur dioxide in the air, which destroys them.
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Lichens are found almost everywhere
Lichens are composite symbiotic organisms that form from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species. They are not plants, but they may look leafy or like coral, and they can be found almost everywhere. Lichens are abundant on tree bark, rocks, walls, gravestones, roofs, exposed soil surfaces, rubber, bones, and in the soil as part of biological soil crusts. They can even live inside solid rock, growing between the grains (endolithic).
Lichens are found in a wide range of habitats, from sea level to high alpine elevations, and can grow on almost any surface. They are particularly prevalent in rainforests and temperate woodlands, where they hang from branches, "living on thin air" (epiphytes). Lichens are also commonly found growing on bark, leaves, mosses, or other lichens.
Lichens are highly adaptable and have evolved to survive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including arctic tundra, hot dry deserts, rocky coasts, and toxic slag heaps. They are among the first living things to grow on fresh rock exposed after an event such as a landslide. Lichens are also very sensitive to sulphur dioxide in the air, which can destroy them and is often present in areas of high pollution. As a result, lichens are typically found in areas with clean air, and their presence can be used to indicate low levels of pollution.
Lichens are an important part of many ecosystems and provide benefits to other organisms, including trees and birds. They are keystone species, acting as important actors in nutrient cycling and producing food for higher trophic feeders such as reindeer, gastropods, nematodes, mites, and springtails. Lichens also benefit humans by absorbing atmospheric pollutants such as heavy metals, carbon, and sulphur.
Lichens come in many colors, sizes, and forms and have different growth patterns, including tiny, leafless branches (fruticose); flat leaf-like structures (foliose); crust-like growth that adheres tightly to a surface (crustose); and a powder-like appearance (leprose). Lichens can also be classified as macro or microlichens, with "macro" and "micro" referring to their growth form rather than their size. Macrolichens are lichens that are either bush-like or leafy, while all other lichens are considered microlichens.
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Mushrooms are also used in traditional medicine
Another mushroom used in traditional medicine is Ganoderma lucidum, also known as ling zhi or reishi. It has been used to promote well-being and longevity since ancient times in traditional Chinese medicine. It is now listed in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and Therapeutic Compendium and is widely used as an adjuvant in the treatment of various types of cancer. More than 100 reishi-based products are currently marketed, such as nutraceuticals and supplements.
The AC mushroom, or Antrodia cinnamomea, is a little-known medicinal mushroom in the West but is very popular in Taiwan, where it is traditionally used to treat liver disorders resulting from alcohol intake. It has also been reported to have antitumor effects on human breast cancer cells.
The functional use of mushrooms in traditional medicine dates back thousands of years because of their varied and uniquely adaptive benefits for health. Modern science has recently begun to rediscover the medicinal properties of mushrooms, exploring the role of mushrooms and their mycelia in ecosystems, and how they can be used in naturopathic medicine to bolster conventional medical practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Lichens are miniature plant-like organisms that occur throughout the world. They are neither fungi nor plants—they are both. The outer skin and internal structure of a lichen are made of strands of fungal hyphae, and interspersed among the strands inside the lichen are individual cells of algae.
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, whereas lichens are a combination of fungi and algae. Lichens are smaller and come in a variety of colours, ranging from bright yellow, red, and orange to green, black, brown, silver, and gray.
Lichens occur in nearly all habitats, from the Arctic to deserts, grasslands, and temperate and tropical forests. They frequently grow on rocks, bark, leaves, soil, and even other lichens.
Yes, mushrooms are used for medicinal purposes in some cultures. For example, the Yuman peoples of Northern Mexico use mushrooms and lichens as natural therapeutic resources.
