Lichenomphalia umbellifera - Karen Dillman

Description:

Description: English: This lonely #mushroom is actually a #lichen growing on a beach log. Lichenomphalia umbellifera is usually about 1 to 2 inches tall, beige to light brown, with well-spaced gills on the underside. It is one of the few lichens that is a basidio-lichen and forms a mushroom. Most lichens are in the ascomycete fungal group and do not resemble mushrooms. The fungal partner of this symbiotic organism have specialized hyphae at the base that are loosely attached to the bed of algae cells which are growing on the log in this site. The algae cells photosynthesize and the tiny mushroom utilizes some of their photosynthetic products. Date: 22 September 2017. Source: https://www.facebook.com/TongassNF/photos/a.512861925512537.1073741830.509767092488687/1121565291308861/?type=3. Author: Karen Dillman, Forest Ecologist, Petersburg Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service.