Gold-eye lichen, (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus), photo © Samuel Brinker.
The lichens on Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Working List are species known or suspected to be rare in the state. Lichens are a symbiotic combination of two or occasionally three organisms, a fungus and a photosynthetic algae and/or cyanobacteria. As such, they don't fit into the traditional definition of a plant.
We currently only have species pages for only a few of Wisconsin's rare lichens but we will continue to add more pages as time and data become available. These pages include information such as where the species preferred habitats, where it has been found in the state and characteristics that may help to identify them. See the Working List for rank and status definitions.
