Tag Archive for: lichen

Words and photos by Bert Harris

There are more than 400 species of lichen found in our area. They are varied and beautiful, and they serve as important habitat for myriad creatures. But they don’t receive much attention from naturalists compared to other groups. The lichens of the Blue Ridge to our west and the Delmarva Peninsula to our east have received recent study, but we still have a lot to learn about lichen communities in the Virginia Piedmont.

In September, we co-hosted the 33rd Tuckerman Lichen Workshop with James Lendemer from the New York State Museum. The goals of the workshop were to study lichens in northern Virginia and to help amateur lichenologists and graduate students hone their skills. The workshop is named after Edward Tuckerman, the father of North American lichenology.

The weather wasn’t ideal, but the Tuckerman crew was hardy!

The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) generously put up 14 lichenologists and lent microscopes and space for them to set up a lichen identification lab. The group spent five days exploring sites with varied geologies and habitats: the Bull Run Mountains, Riverside Preserve, Wildcat Mountain, Calmes Neck, and the OSGF. The group braved wet conditions and a highlight was a rainy ride in the back of a pickup truck to access some distant lichens.

Identifying specimens in the lab space at Oak Spring.

We are still identifying specimens but it seems that we found at least two undescribed species(!) and a handful of new state records. Other highlights included quartzite specialists in the Bull Run Mountains, three species of cyanolichens at Wildcat Mountain and Riverside Preserve, rarities such as Heterodermia granulifera in the forest at Oak Spring, and a diverse community limestone specialists at Calmes Neck. Overall, the experts were pleasantly surprised by how many species we found. Check out this link for photos from the workshop.

The workshop was part of a broader National Science Foundation award to James Lendemer to study Appalachian lichens. We are so grateful to all the lichenologists who attended, from as far away as Ottawa and Seattle. We also extend our thanks to the Oak Spring Garden Foundation for being such generous hosts. Many thanks also to private landowners, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Fauquier County Department of Parks and Recreation for allowing property access.

This Alabama Shield Lichen is one of the rare species we found. Alabama Shield Lichens are only found on quartzite outcrops in the eastern US, and northern Virginia appears to be the stronghold for the species.

Tag Archive for: lichen

In this program Co-Director and amateur lichenologist Bert Harris will teach participants the basics of lichen biology and identification. He’ll then lead participants on a lichen tour of the rocky outcrops and mature forests of the Clifton Institute. We have some exciting lichens here, but we are just starting to study our lichen community, so with a group of lichen-likers looking closely we may even find a new species!

We recommend bringing a handlens if you have one, but we will have some to share if not.

Cost:

Children 18 and under – Free

Adults – $15 ($10 for Friends of Clifton.) All proceeds from our programs go directly to funding our education programs, restoration work, and research projects. Thank you for your support!

Age: Adults and children accompanied by an adult.

Weather policy: Date and time subject to change dependent on weather. Please check your email for updates on the morning of the event.

COVID-19 Information: This program will be partially indoors, partially outdoors (an outside porta potty will be available). Please do not attend if you are experiencing or have experienced in the last week any symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.)

Registration is REQUIRED.

Cancellation policy: If you register and can no longer attend this event, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can open your spot to someone else. No refunds given for participant cancellation. Refunds will be issued in the event of Clifton cancelling.

By registering for this event, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy.

We look forward to seeing you at the Clifton Institute!