Lichen, Apothecium

Images made through a microscope. All subject types.

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Ken Ramos
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: lat=35.4005&lon=-81.9841

Lichen, Apothecium

Post by Ken Ramos »

The apothecium is but one of the fruiting bodies of a lichen. It is in the apothecia that usually eight ascospores are formed within the sac-like asci. :)

Image

Image

Sony DSC-P200
Zeiss Axiostar Plus
2.5X/0.06 A-Plan & 5X/0.12 CP Achromat
Duel Pipe Fiber Optic Halogen illumination

Notice that there are areas inwhich the photobiont is quite prominate in the thallus. This photobiont is probably the algae Trebouxia sp. which is found most commonly in lichens. Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae is also a common photobiont of lichens. :)

beetleman
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Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:19 am
Location: Southern New Hampshire USA

Post by beetleman »

I love these closeups of the lichen Ken. Are you talking about the green algae in the cracks of the lichen? (lower right, second picture?)
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

Ken Ramos
Posts: 7208
Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: lat=35.4005&lon=-81.9841

Post by Ken Ramos »

Yep, that's it Doug. I plan to try and take one of these apart to see if I can get a shot of the algae later on this week. Thanks Doug. :D

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