City - Vanrhynsdorp State - WESTERN CAPE Country - South Africa
About
Parmelia, a lichen species also commonly known as rock flowers. This lichen species was often included as an ingredient of traditional medicine and is known to have antibiotic qualities. Taken late in the afternoon on the farm Quaggaskop near Vanrhynsdorp, South Africa. Brightness and contrast adjusted, high pass filter 0.5/overlay, slightly cropped in PS.
Hi Peter - In fact it only resembles a flower. A lichen is actually a community of two different organisms living together in mutual benefit. A fungus provides the main body and physically anchors itself to the substrate (in this case a rock). Colonies blue-green algae(in this case - hence the blue-green colours) are embedded in the body of the fungus. The algae provide the food and the fungus the habitat for the alge in this symbiotic relationship. The "cups' visible on the image is the fruiting bodies of the fungus. Kind regards. Joggie
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{K:3492} 8/26/2005