What is a lichen?

Lichen is a symbiosis of two partners. One of the partners are photobiont and the other partner is mycobiont.

Lichen is a symbiosis of two partners. One of the partners are photobiont and the other partner is mycobiont. Photobiont is an eukaryotic green algae or a prokaryotic cyanobacteria. Mycobiont is the fungi partner.

Mycobiont is the key for this relationship. A lichen symbiosis can contamine only one mycobiont but it can contamine more than one photobiont.

In this relationship mycobiont provides shelter for photobiont. And photobiont provides food with photosentetis to mycobiont.

Lichens are very powerful and successfull relationships. They can live almost everywhere like desert,very high mountain,sea , on soil, rock , or even on a alive organism.