"The dark edges between the thalli are called the prothallus, and are where the fungal partner is present without the algal partner" — Dr. Mike Simms, Lichenologist, personal correspondence.
The searching fungi draws borders on stone.
Pen and ink drawing of 'Fuscidea cyathoides', growing on quartzite, Inishowen peninsula, Ireland, as part of an art-research residency with Artlink Fort Dunree, throughout 2022
@jrsstorytime yes, and thanks. It's part of a series of sketches the real thing looks like the image here, but I'm drawing very close-up details of specific parts to try and learn a little more about these fascinating critters..
A lichen that is coloniser and collaborator, teaching me something about porous edges and permeable places. Apparently, after growing for thousands of years, they create spaces where they (co)exist.
There is a lot to unpick here, and a lot to learn.
@mycorrhiza the lichen keep tricking me too, creating shapes that seem familiar when I look at them for too long. I am pretty sure they are doing this to offer some perspective on how we all live on this small rock-in-space, but I haven't been able to understand yet. Hopefully some day.
JR 🐸🎃
in reply to Fionnáin • • •Fionnáin
in reply to JR 🐸🎃 • • •Fionnáin
in reply to Fionnáin • • •There is a lot to unpick here, and a lot to learn.
Fionnáin
Unknown parent • • •