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Medieval computer
This is a volvelle, a medieval device that allowed you to calculate the phases of the moon and the latter’s position in relation...
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Favorite Food
This week’s blog is from Martha De Laurentiis, one of Hannibal’s executive producers.
Two cannibals are having dinner. “I hate my...
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Hello tumblr allow me to present you the swedish vallhund
i´m VERY...
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The Naïve Art of Truth Chasing
Yesterday’s events outside the National Security Bureau in Sana’a that spread into the neighbouring districts,...
Why are lichens important?
Lichens allow algae to live in environments that would normally be too harsh. The fungi protect the algae from hot, sunny conditions, provided that there is enough water to last through dry periods. Algae is responsible for producing most of the world’s oxygen, so the more places that algae can inhabit, the better.
They also play a role in controlling pollution, as they are effective bioindicators. They are very sensitive to atmospheric pollutants such as carbon and sulphur, and they will readily absorb them. Any changes in lichens reflects the air quality around them, and extracts can be taken from them for analysis (more info can be found here).
Lichens have been used by people for centuries as food, medicine, cosmetics and even for embalming. Lichens often contain mildly toxic substances, but these can be washed or boiled away, while the lichens themselves are rarely poisonous. Examples of edible lichens include Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) and reindeer lichen (Cladonia spp.). The latter is harvested partially digested from the rumens of reindeer and called “stomach ice cream” according to Wikipedia…
Photo: Alectoria sarmentosa by Leif Stridvall.
(via mycology)
(via mycology)
(via mycology)
(via mycology)
nybg:
Semi-weekly fungus time. It’s a good thing. —MN
A pink surprise by annkelliott on Flickr.
Larger, then click againFungi, specifically Lycogala epidendrum, photographed in
Brown-Lowery Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada.
(via mycology)
