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Vehicle Fuel Available at Big Meadows ONLY!
Vehicle fuel is only available at Big Meadows (mile 52). Gas service has been discontinued at the Loft and Elkwallow areas.
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Attention Hikers!
There has been an outbreak of Norovirus among Appalachian Trail (A.T.) hikers. For information about how to protect yourself click here. More »
Lichens
Sulphur-firedot lichen (Caloplaca flavovirescens), a crustose lichen NPS Photo If you visit a rock outcrop in Shenandoah National Park you are sure to find lichens. Lichens are a specific group of fungi unique because of their symbiotic relationship with green algae. In this relationship, the algae provide carbohydrates from photosynthesis to the fungus, while the fungus provides nutrients from decomposition to the algae. Lichens are the first colonist on exposed rock. They secrete acids that gradually break down the rock surface on which they grow, contributing to soil development. Lichens grow extremely slowly, adding only 0.1 mm to 10 mm of growth per year. Much of the mineral nutrition needed by lichens is obtained from the surrounding air and precipitation to which they are exposed. For this reason, lichens are extremely sensitive to poor air quality, especially sulfur dioxide pollution. 
Smooth lungwort (Lobaria quercizans), a foliose lichen NPS Photo Lichens come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They can grow flat against a smooth surface (crustose), extend from a surface like leaves (foliose), or form branched projections (fruticose). Common colors include black, white, orange, yellow, red, brown, and green. Sixty-nine species of lichen are known from Shenandoah National Park. Two of these species, map lichen (Rhizocarpon geographicum), and black crust (Melinelia stigia) are extremely rare in Virginia and found only on rock outcrops in the central district of the park. Other notable lichens within the park include the green foliose boulder lichen (Parmelia spp.) commonly seen on trees and rocks. And the large brown oval leaf-like projections of rock tripe (Umbilicaria spp.) often seen on large forest boulders. Related Information Useful references on lichens: USGS Online Lichen Database: (Fact Sheet) Brodo, I.M. S.D. Sharnoff, and S. Sharnoff. 2001. Lichens of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut. Websites that provide photographs and helpful biological information about lichens include the following: Listing of this website does not and is not intended to imply endorsement by the National Park Service of commercial services or products associated with the site. |
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Did You Know?
Named for their short, bobbed tail, bobcats are fairly common in Shenandoah National Park, but are rarely seen. More...