this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
28 points (100.0% liked)

Lichen

185 readers
10 users here now

A community for lichen enthusiasts to post photos, questions or to discuss the science of lichenology.

founded 1 month ago
MODERATORS
 

Not sure how I managed to never hit this species with UV. I would describe the colour as a bright, hot, lipstick pink. I am unsure if this lichen is actually fluorescing or if something else to do with how the pigments show up under UV light - maybe @Sal@mander.xyz would know. Picture doesn't quite do it justice.

Another fun thing about this lichen is its role in dying as a photo oxidizing dye (POD). I have not dyed with this specific lichen but I believe the initial colour produced is a nice pink/mauve, when exposed to sunlight the garment will turn a sort of grey-blue colour. Unfortunately, the effect is not reversible so doesn't act as a 'mood-ring sweater'.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] magpie@mander.xyz 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I have only been keeping an herbarium for maybe 6 months but I have had good luck reviving them and viewing under the microscope. I don't know how helpful it is for the long-run but I basically take them all out, water them and set them out in the sun for a bit. The mineral content of my well-water probably isn't a fully balance diet for them so I am kind of just shooting from the hip and seeing how long that works. I don't have any scientific training so its all enthusiasm + trial and error. I imagine they should last a while, it can't be worse than the vacuum of space. If you are thinking about starting a collection I would work out a voucher tag system right away, its something I neglected to do early on and I'm kicking myself. I just use a little piece of paper and note name, date, location, substrate, etc. - not unlike a voucher slip you fill out during a bioblitz. One of my storage containers:

[โ€“] Sal@mander.xyz 2 points 4 days ago

Thanks for the idea! That looks very nice, I like how the collection is organized in those storage containers. They look very well preserved so far so your well water + sun protocol seems to be working well. Perhaps I will too start a lichen collection!