Lichen. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a lichen. The round structures are the fruiting bodies (apothecia), which contain the reproduct

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Lichen. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a lichen. The round structures are the fruiting bodies (apothecia), which contain the reproductive spores of the fungi. Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed of a fungus and an alga that mutually benefit one another. The alga is contained within the hyphae (filaments) of the fungus. They are therefore protected from harsh conditions, and in particular from dessication. The alga supplies the fungus with nutrients that it makes by photosynthesis. Lichens are usually found growing on stones and the bark of trees.

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Size: 3487px × 2508px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alga, algae, apothecia, apothecium, biological, biology, bodies, body, botanical, botany, coloured, false-colour, false-coloured, fruiting, fungal, fungi, fungus, hypha, hyphae, lichen, microbiological, microbiology, mutualism, mutualistic, sem, spore-bearing, symbiosis, symbiotic