Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

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L ichens in Scotland Lichens are more abundant and better developed in Scotland than in other parts of the British Isles. Many people notice lichens for the first time as they see dense, shaggy coats on tree trunks and rocks - 'old man's beard' hangs to a foot long off branches. Spectacular patches of scarlet-tipped lichens are often found on heathland. Those venturing onto the high ground of the Cairngorm plateau, will find themselves in a wilderness dominated by lichens. In the past lichens played an important role in the Scottish economy. They were used for dyeing, both on a domestic scale and in supplying the manufacturers of the world-famous Harris tweed with their shades from orange through to brown. Even now you can bring back a jersey knitted with lichen-dyed wool as a memento of a visit to Scotland. The only naturalised reindeer in Britain are found in the Highlands where they live for much of the year on the lichen known as 'reindeer moss'. Particularly Scottish are: • the Celtic rain forests, • Caledonian pinewoods, • Atlantic hazelwoods, • the lichens of the vast bird colonies on islands such as St Kilda, • the montane communities are exceptional, where a single mountain can exceed in diversity the combined lichen floras of Snowdonia and the English Lake District. This booklet provides an introduction to these riches. From the point of view of Scotland's natural heritage, many of the lichen communities in western Scotland are unequalled anywhere in Europe and so are of international importance. 1 Reindeer Moss (Cladonia portentosa)
2 Orange Sea Star (Caloplaca verruculifera) common on rocky shores
Page 1 and 2: Lichens naturally scottish There ar
Page 3 and 4: © Scottish Natural Heritage 2004 I
Page 5 and 6: Foreword Whilst Scotland's outstand
Page 7: VIII Lichen-covered oak trees at Ar
Page 11 and 12: H ow lichens multiply and disperse
Page 13 and 14: 6 Inside a Harris tweed factory wit
Page 15 and 16: W hat’s in a name? Many Scottish
Page 17 and 18: T he exceptional Scottish climate L
Page 19 and 20: A ir as pure as wine? Most people a
Page 21 and 22: I mportant habitats for lichens T h
Page 23 and 24: The best lichen sites are on sunny,
Page 25 and 26: C aledonian pinewoods It is a myth
Page 27 and 28: Hazel stems covered in mosses, live
Page 29 and 30: A lpines galore Only a tiny fractio
Page 31 and 32: 24 The rare Goblin Lights (Catolech
Page 33 and 34: T he coast Several features combine
Page 35 and 36: Lichen heath in the stabilized dune
Page 37 and 38: B lanket bog Most level ground in t
Page 39 and 40: C onservation It should be clear by
Page 41 and 42: B iodiversity Action Plan and the R
Page 43 and 44: F inding out more about lichens Lis
Page 45 and 46: Also in the Naturally Scottish seri

Lichens Lichens - Scottish Natural Heritage

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