Fun Facts about Lichen

1. Lichens grow slowly but live long lives. In fact, they’re the longest living creatures on the planet, with life spans that vary from 500 to 5,000 years. The oldest lichen, estimated to be 8,600 years old, is located in Glacier National Park, Alaska.  
2. Three creatures grow together to form a lichen: fungus, algae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
3. The children’s book author and botanist Beatrix Potter (of Peter Rabbit fame) was the first person in Britain to publish the above fact in a scientific paper. 
4. Lichens live at the edge of life: on rocks, trees and barren soil. Between 700 and 500 million years ago, lichen moved onto earth’s rocky continents and, over millions of years, created the soil that made land habitable for plants. 
5. Birds camouflage their nests with lichen, reindeer eat lichen to warm their blood, humans use lichen to make dyes, perfumes and medicines. Llichen is also useful as a sign of the health of an environment.