crnjac_d_009's Identifications

Visual description- Several Christmas lichen are detected here. They are red in color with a tint of white shade. They are growing off the trees. One ring of lichen is the size of my thumb.

Defining characteristics-They are red in color with a tint of white shade. with a single ring being the size of my thumb. they have a external thalus growing of fungus, showing its symbiotic relationship between a fungus and algae/cyanobacteria present on the trees. Hence its a lichen.

Habitat- this was found on aa tree bark near a water body. As for common habitats, they are commonly found in areas with low pollution and hence is also called a pollution indicator, they are found on the bark of trees and moist areas with sunlight.

Additional Information- It was found near a water body body
. it a good indicator of pollution. the presence of lichens shows the place has less pollution.

Range-The range varies from Florida to Texas to north Carolina.

For reference-
https://lucec.loyno.edu/natural-history-writings/christmas-wreath-lichen-cryptothecia-rubrocincta

This fern is green with some yellow, with brownish sori. Its small (each frond being about 2 inches long). The shape of each frond is triangular with round blades that are decreasing in size as you move down the frond. The visible part of the plant is the sporophyte and on the underside of the blades the sori are visible. The stipe of the fond is a vascular characteristic of Monilophyta. They do not have seeds and mentioned before, the visible part of the plant is the sporophyte, only typical in monilophytes. The fern was found living out of the bark of a tree and are found in any location that is moist or receives water in order to reproduce. The day when the ferns were found was a hot upper 80 degree day, sunny, and humid. The plants were all living closely together. The fern living within the tree demonstrates mutualism relationship or commensalism.

https://web.fscj.edu/david.byres/resfern/resfern.htm