The Lives of Lichen by Robert Lücking & Toby Spribille

This book will take you on a worldwide tour of lichen species from the Arctic to Australia. It is a field guide, textbook, and art gallery that showcases lichens not only as medicine, food, and art, but also highlights how lichen is used to study ecological succession, climate change, and astrobiology. The lichen’s symbiotic relationship between fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria results in an almost ecosystem-like complexity and delicate balance that has shaken up our understanding of life as we know it. This book includes incredible macro photography of lichen that are velvety, warty, leafy, and everything in between, as well as drawings of microscope samples.  

Hardcover, 288 pages, Princeton University Press, 9 ¾” x 7 ½”.