1. Lichens and Fungi

2. Lichen  Composite organisms with a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae.  They help each other survive.  The algae produces the food because it has chlorophyll.  The fungi absorbs water and sunlight.  It is dormant which means that it does not grow until it has a fungi or algae to complete the relationship.  Grow on walls, tree bark, and rocks.  Can live through extreme heat or cold temperatures but die in fires- smoke or fumes.  They grow slowly and live an extremely long time.  Can take 450 years to grow the size of a quarter which is equal to less than 1mm/ year  Artic lichen can take up to 4000 years to grow.

3. Crustose Lichen (crusty) Grows flat or even be embedded in the bark or rock. It is attached by the entire undersurface of the lichen.

4. Fruticose Lichen (leaflike) It curls up off of the surface of the tree/ rock/ or wall and it looks like crumbled leaves. It is attached to the surface by many root like threads.

5. Foliose Lichen (treelike) Branch like plant, grow upright or hangs from the surface that it is attached to and it is only attached at the base.

6. Fungus  Fungi lack stems, leaves and roots that most plants have.  They cannot make their own food because they cannot photosynthesize.  They belong to their own family or group known as a kingdom and they are not technically plants.  They live where they can absorb their food (minerals, water from organic matter) on dead wood, or dead animals or as tumors/parasites on living organisms.

7. Two Roles of Fungus  They are the Cleaning Crew - As decomposers they eat and digest everything. From dead animals and plants to eating things contaminated by oil and diesel. They break it all down to create soil.  The are the Forest Restoration Crew - They help trees and plants absorb nutrients from the soil. They also help restore habitats, reduce forest fires and soil erosion.

8. Reproduction!  Fungi reproduce by producing spores that travel by air/wind until they settle in an environment in which they can grow

9. Conks  Conks are a type of fungus attached to tree trunks. They grow out from the trunks of trees like steps or shelves and have growth rings like trees. They appear to be soft, like mushrooms, but they are very hard and are firmly attached to the trunk. There are different types of conks, found in different colours and forms.

10. Mushrooms  Mushrooms, like conks, are the fruiting body of the fungus. They produce the spores for reproduction. Beneath the surface of the ground or bark is the main part of the organism (the Mycelium) that collects the water and material for growth. Mushrooms can be found in a wide range of shapes, colours, and locations in the forest. Some species are even poisonous!

11. Mycorrhizal Fungi  They grown on tree roots. This fungus has a mutually beneficial relationship (a helpful) relationship with a tree: the fungi feeds on the sugar provided to the roots of the tree and in return, the fungi breaks down the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil enabling the tree to make use of it. The mycorrhizal fungi have an edible black fruit called truffles which are a delicacy and can cost up to $2000/ kilo in the winter and $200/kilo in the summer.