Getting to Know Saskatchewan Lichens

The letter carrier arrived at the door today with my copy of (the new-to-me) Getting to Know Saskatchewan Lichens, by Bernard De Vries, published by Nature Saskatchewan. One glance, and I was hooked.

Golden Moonglow Lichen, on limestone rock. © SB 

I immediately dove into my photo catalogue, looking for lichens to ID. And this photo above, I believe, shows Golden Moonglow Lichen, which likes limestone rocks in sunny locations. (Given its lustrous white smoothness, I've no hesitation in leaping to label the rock above as limestone... Then again, a geologist, I'm not!)

I love learning the names of species — and even the fact that such species exist as Rosette Pixie Cup and Desert Firedot Lichen. Amazingly vivid and imaginative for these bright sparks of colour on Saskatchewan rocks, trees and soil.

This guide is available from Nature Saskatchewan; De Vries also has several online guides to Saskatchewan prairie and boreal lichens.



What is this: My latest guidebook — and a rock encrusted with what I think must be Golden Moonglow Lichen.
Location: Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Photo Dates: July 28, 2011.   

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