Mosses and Lichens

Here’s one for the little guys! Did you know there are around 1,000 bryophytes (mosses and liverworts), and over 2,000 species of lichen in British Columbia? How many can you find?

Not every moss and lichen looks the same. For example, lichens can come in several different shapes: dust, crust, scale, leaf, club, shrub, and hair. If you didn’t bring your magnifying glass, below is a look at some of the diverse species you might find nearby.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between mosses and lichens? Mosses are a type of plant, specifically, a non-vascular plant, meaning they do not have true roots, and they have less developed conductive tissues for transporting things like water and nutrients. A lichen, on the other hand, is not just one living thing, but a symbiotic relationship between two or sometimes even three different organisms living together and relying upon each other. Typically, lichen are composed of a species of algae and one or two species of fungi.

While you enjoy the distant views in the park, remember to keep a look out for the smaller species that make up this beautiful ecosystem.