Wandering lichen

When it rains in the Mallee, the Wandering Lichen settles down for a bit.

Normally it blows about, dry as paper, rolling along the ground and gathering in hollows. But when it rains, it unfurls and gets in a quick bit of photosynthesis, whilst it can. It's also called Resurrection Lichen and I guess it's the ultimate strategy to cope with the long dry (and possibly Covid-19): just wait it out.

The iNaturalist community tells me it's proper name is Xanthoparmelia semiviridis. And even more nerdy, a lichen is not one organism, but two living together! It's a fungus living with an algae or cyanobacterium. Fungi can't photosynthesise because they lack chlorophyll, so uses green algae to do the hard work. In return, the algae get a sheltered environment to live in. Pretty clever all around.

Dry Wandering Lichen on the left and unfurled Lichen, ready for a bit of photosynthesis.

• First published 8 August 2020

• Update August 2021 - I’m now the proud owner of A practical guide to the soil lichens and bryophytes of Australia’s dry country (Eldridge and Tozer). Apparently Xanthoparmelia lichens are useful indicators of stable, well-managed soils. Yay! Go us!!