Friday Poem

Environmental & Science Education, Poetry, Art & Science, Nature, Biodiversity

Ed Hessler

Today's poem is by Jane Hirshfield.

About organisms included in the title.

Lobaria

Usnea 

Witches Hair

Map Lichen 

Beard Lichen

Shield Lichen 

Ground lichens are a common name because of their association with the ground and they include a variety of lichen species. This is a general description of lichens.

The British children's author Beatrix Potter did some early paintings of fungi and this article from the Australian National Herbarium shows a few, describes her research on lichens, first publication with important comments by scholars, including from environmental historian, Linda Lear to provide some perspective as well as clarification on this work. Lear wrote a well-regarded biography of Ms. Potter's life. Lichens and fungi were often included in her book illustrations. She was very observant and the paintings add considerably to the pleasure of her books.