A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria (or both) living among filaments of a fungus in a symbiotic relationship. The combined life form has properties that are very different from the properties of its component organisms. Lichens come in many colors, sizes, and forms. The properties are sometimes plant-like, but lichens are not plants. Lichens may have tiny, leafless branches (fruticose), flat leaf-like structures (foliose), flakes that lie on the surface like peeling paint (crustose), or other growth forms. A macrolichen is a lichen that is either bush-like or leafy; all other lichens are termed microlichens. Here, "macro" and "micro" do not refer to size, but to the growth form.Common names for lichens may contain the word "moss" (e.g., "Reindeer moss", "Iceland moss"), and lichens may superficially look like and grow with mosses, but lichens are not related to mosses or any plant. Lichens do not have roots that absorb water and nutrients as plants do but like plants they produce their own food by photosynthesis using sunlight energy, from carbon dioxide, water and minerals in their environment. When they grow on plants, they do not live as parasites and only use the plants as a substrate.
Lichen is a type of symbiotic organism.
Lichen may also refer to:
Licheń Stary [ˈlixɛɲ ˈstarɨ] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ślesin, within Konin County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) south-east of Ślesin, 14 km (9 mi) north-east of Konin, and 99 km (62 mi) east of the regional capital Poznań. The village has a population of 1,100.
The village's name means "old Licheń"; it is often referred to as simply Licheń.
Licheń Stary is the site of Poland's largest church, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń, completed in 2004, which houses icon of the Virgin Mary called Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland. The sanctuary was constructed to accommodate the large number of pilgrims who come to venerate the image of the Virgin Mary, which according to tradition has been miraculous.
Coordinates: 52°19′24″N 18°21′36″E / 52.32333°N 18.36000°E