Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
982,680,450 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

lichen
(redirected from Lichen spinulosus)

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
li·chen  (lkn)
n.
1. A fungus, usually of the class Ascomycetes, that grows symbiotically with algae, resulting in a composite organism that characteristically forms a crustlike or branching growth on rocks or tree trunks.
2. Pathology Any of various skin diseases characterized by patchy eruptions of small, firm papules.
tr.v. li·chened, li·chen·ing, li·chens
To cover with lichens.

[Latin lchn, a kind of plant, from Greek leikhn, from leikhein, to lick; see leigh- in Indo-European roots.]

lichen·ous adj.

lichen
Noun
any of various small mossy plants that grow in patches on tree trunks, bare ground, rocks, and stone walls [Greek leikhein to lick]

lichen  (lkn)
The mutualistic symbiotic association of a fungus with an alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. The fungal component of a lichen absorbs water and nutrients from the surroundings and provides a suitable environment for the alga or cyanobacterium. These live protected among the dense fungal hyphae and produce carbohydrates for the fungus by photosynthesis. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. The more familiar lichens grow slowly as crusty patches, but lichens are found in a variety of forms, such as the tall, plantlike reindeer moss. The association between the different organisms in a lichen is so close that lichens are routinely referred to as a single organism, and scientists classify lichens using the name of the fungal component.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.lichenlichen - any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
disease of the skin, skin disease, skin disorder - a disease affecting the skin
lichen planus, lichen ruber planus - an eruption of shiny flat-topped purplish (usually itchy) papules on the wrist and forearms and thighs
2.lichen - any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc.
division Lichenes, Lichenes - comprising the lichens which grow symbiotically with algae; sometimes treated as an independent group more or less coordinate with algae and fungi
ascolichen - a lichen in which the fungus component is an ascomycete
basidiolichen - a lichen in which the fungus component is a basidiomycete
lecanora - any lichen of the genus Lecanora; some used in dyeing; some used for food
roccella, Roccella tinctoria - a source of the dye archil and of litmus
beard lichen, beard moss, Usnea barbata - greenish grey pendulous lichen growing on trees
horsehair lichen, horsetail lichen - any of several lichens of the genus Alectoria having a thallus consisting of filaments resembling hair
arctic moss, Cladonia rangiferina, reindeer lichen, reindeer moss - an erect greyish branching lichen of Arctic and even some north temperate regions constituting the chief food for reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humans
crotal, crottal, crottle - any of several lichens of the genus Parmelia from which reddish brown or purple dyes are made
Cetraria islandica, Iceland lichen, Iceland moss - lichen with branched flattened partly erect thallus that grows in mountainous and Arctic regions; used as a medicine or food for humans and livestock; a source of glycerol
fungus - an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia
Translations
Spanish lichen [ˈlaɪkən] nliquen m
French lichen [ˈlaɪkən] nlichen m
German lichen [ˈlaɪkən] nFlechte f
Italian lichen [ˈlaɪkən] nlichene m

?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.