Written by Saina Doval, a grade 5 student.

Have you ever seen those disgusting, crusty, leaflike fungi which are visible on rocks, walls, and trees? Can you believe that fungi are important for our environment? Well, it is!

A lichen is a kind of fungus that arises from algae (a water fungus). It is a composite organism that has different properties and is eaten by Llamas. The scientific name for lichen is cup lichen. One may ask,  why are lichens so important? They, like normal plants, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen via photosynthesis. They also enable algae to survive in different climatic conditions all around the world. They can also survive in extremely warm conditions for long periods until it rains excessively or floods occur.

There are around 3,600 species of lichens across South America. They are found in diverse habitats i.e from the Sonoran desert to the Alaskan mountains.

Written by Saina Doval, a grade 5 student.