Piney River SNA, Spring City, TN Rock Tripe is an odd, large, leathery lichen that is often found growing on boulders and sides of cliffs. This lichen has been used as a survival food in early times to help ward off starvation. I guess you'd have to be really hungry to eat something that looks like this!
Great Smoky Mountains NP Feb. 21, 2009 These gelatinous black lichens contain cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) as their photobiont. They can grow on trees or on the soil. Jelly lichens often grow along with mosses. While surveying the trees in my yard, I was surprised to find this lichen growing on the bark of the Black Gum tree behind my house too. We have lived here for 27-1/2 years and I've never noticed it before! That proves there is always something new to see and learn about! :)
It is amazing how much this moth looks like lichen! It would nearly disappear on a lichen-covered tree.
