The Lungwort Trinity

The lovely tree lungwort, Lobaria pulmonaria is three lives in one. Fungi, algae and cyanobacteria work together to survive in their own little community. This being has members of three different kingdoms of the phylogenic tree living in a symbiotic relationship.

Dried up Lungwort among lichens.

The cyanobacteria fixes nitrogen from the air to assist the photosynthesis of the algae. The fungi component serves as the scaffolding and roots of the complex.
Lungworts are sensitive to air pollution and acid rain because the cyanobacteria dies under these conditions. Having a forest full of lungworts is a good sign of the health of the ecosystem.

Tree Lungwort/ Lobaria pulmonaria

Symbiosis is a win:win relationship that enables organisms to expand their niches. Each depends on the other(s) to provide an essential resources that it could not acquire independently.

Dried lungwort and moss

Interdependence at its finest.

FLOWER