Image on the left is a closeup of Boreal Felt Lichen on a fir tree, taken by Brad Toms. It appears dark green with white edging and reddish growths. The surface is flat and appear like soft felt-like hairs. Image on the right is of an Old Growth Balsam Forest. The trees appear slender and soft light can be seen streaming through the canopy to the forest floor. Image from: CO4 — Balsam fir / Foxberry – Twinflower Abies balsamea /Vaccinium vitis-idaea - Linnaea borealis https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestry/veg-types/co/co4.asp. Text: Lichen survive according to a symbiotic relationship. Fugus & cyanobacterium need each other; one produces the nurturance while one provides a protective structure. Boreal Felt Lichen typically grow on fir trees, like Balsam Fir over 30 years.

#SpeciesAtRisk like #BorealFeltLichen reveal the importance of further research into biodiversity within our #NovaScotia forests. Protecting and conserving Nova Scotia's #OldGrowthForests is critical to monitoring climate change. www.nsenvironmentalnetwork.com/blog/lichens...

Image of a closeup of Boreal Felt Lichen. It appears as a moist dark olive green, with white hairs along the felt-like surface. There are also clusters of red (apothecia) or berry-looking growths. Image from Speciesatrisk.ca. Text: This foliose cyanolichen is very rare and sensitive to air pollution. Within Canada, this lichen is only found in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. #NSWildifeSpotlight #Lichens #SpeciesAtRisk. Logo: Museum of Natural History a part of the NSM.

#BorealFeltLichen appears bluish grey, when the thallus layer is moist, and dark grey to greyish brown, when dry. The average size measuring 2–5 cm in diameter but can grow up to 12 cm in diameter. novascotia.ca/natr/wildlif...