Moss or lichen?

[John Mitchell]

Is this moss or lichen on the bark of this cedar tree?

 

I called it moss, but now I think it's lichen (or perhaps a mixture of both).

 

 

Thanks in advance...

[Reimar]

Looks like lichen to me.  Moss is a plant with (small) leaves.

[Niels Quist]

7 minutes ago, Reimar said:

Looks like lichen to me.  Moss is a plant with (small) leaves.

 

+1

 

http://m.espacepourlavie.ca/en/lichens-and-trees

[John Mitchell]

Right. Lichen is a fungus, I believe. Looks as if it's mainly lichen, with little bits of tiny leafy stuff here and there, which I guess could be moss.

 

I'll change the description to green lichen.

 

Thanks very much.

[Starsphinx]

9 minutes ago, John Mitchell said:

Right. Lichen is a fungus, I believe. Looks as if it's mainly lichen, with little bits of tiny leafy stuff here and there, which I guess could be moss.

 

I'll change the description to green lichen.

 

Thanks very much.

http://www.britishlichensociety.org.uk/about-lichens/what-is-a-lichen

[Rudix]

I often find moss and lichens on the trees in my garden competing for space, looks a lot like your photo but the lichens are normally a lot larger and more prominent.

[John Mitchell]

1 hour ago, Rudix said:

I often find moss and lichens on the trees in my garden competing for space, looks a lot like your photo but the lichens are normally a lot larger and more prominent.

 

I think the lichens won in my case.

[Rudix]

7 minutes ago, John Mitchell said:

 

I think the lichens won in my case.

Yes, I agree! They seem to be the more hardy and persistent species! When you see those lichens in the Namib desert that are hundreds of years old you can see how hardy they are.

 

Edit: One from my garden.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2018 by Rudix
Added image

[Starsphinx]

I wish good luck to anyone who is looking to put species and latin name of lichens in their keywords.  It turns out lots look pretty much exactly like each other - and there are a lot of them lol