Mark and his daughter picking Elderberries Copyright 2013 Mark Larese-Casanova
Hi, this is Mark Larese-Casanova from the Utah Master Naturalist Program at Utah State University Extension.
Utah’s mountains are abundant with berry-producing shrubs that provide a veritable bounty of food for wildlife. As summer winds down and fall cedes to winter, many birds and mammals try to feed as much as possible to store energy for migration, hibernation, or even just surviving the cold.
One of the most abundant berry-producing shrubs in Utah’s moist mountain canyons is elderberry, Continue reading “Elderberries”
The splendid blooming meadows of summer are fulfilling their reproductive imperative now as they mature and disperse the fruits and seeds that resulted from pollination. Plants can’t walk or actively fly, so to disperse from the mother plant, seeds need to catch a ride. Wild gourds bob down flooding arroyos, thistledown floats on the wind, and red barberry fruits hope to catch the eye of a hungry song bird.
Certainly the most annoying means of dispersal is employed by seeds that stick in fur and socks. Some like cheatgrass are driven home by sharp barbed seeds that poke and hold like the porcupine’s quill. Others form evil pointy burrs, like those of puncturevine, that can flatten a bicycle tire. And then there is burdock. This European weed infests moister disturbed sites in Utah. Its burrs cling tightly to hair and clothing.
Burdock Hooks Courtesy & Copyright 2009 Jim Cane
Sixty years ago, the Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, became intrigued by the seed heads of cockleburrs and burdocks. They had entangled his dog’s fur and stuck to his pant legs during a montane hunt. How did those burrs cling so steadfastly? Aided by a hand lens, you can see what de Mestral saw: ranks of hook-tipped bristles that snag clothing and fur. Burdocks inspired de Mestral’s invention of Velcro, whose patented nylon bristles are hooked over just like burdock’s and latch on just the same. When next you are beset by burdock burrs, inspect one closely and admire the inventiveness of nature. Then please terminate its dispersal by placing it where the seeds of this weed can’t germinate and grow!
This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society. Credits:
Photos: Courtesy & Copyright Jim Cane
Text: Jim Cane, Bridgerland Audubon Society
Additional Reading:
Velcro ® brand is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. www.velcro.com
Velcro USA Inc. Celebrates 50th Anniversary, (Press Release)
Boulder covered in a variety of lichen species Copyright 2013 Andrea Liberatore, Photographer Rosette Lichen Physcia dubia Lives in both Antarctica and the Mojave Desert Copyright 2013 Andrea Liberatore, Photographer Rim Lichen Lecanora muralis Has anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties Copyright 2013 Andrea Liberatore, Photographer Garovagis Rim Lichen Leconara garovagii Used in perfume & sunscreen Copyright 2013 Andrea Liberatore, Photographer
This spring I visited Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City for the first time. My favorite part was a small and very non-descript garden, tucked alongside a walkway and devoted to an organism that isn’t a plant at all, but instead a very under-appreciated genera of life – the lichen.
Lichens are those colorful crusts found growing on rocks and trees, and while sometimes plant-like in appearance, they are not plants. Lichens have no leaves, stems, roots, or vascular systems. Even more strange, lichens are not a single organism, but instead a partnership between two organisms: a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria. Because the fungus is generally the dominant partner, lichens are classified as members of the Fungus kingdom.
The partnership exhibited by these two organisms is an example of mutualism – a relationship where both parties benefit in some way through their interaction. In this case, the fungus provides a safe and secure home for the alga or cyanobacteria, which in return photosynthesizes and provides the fungus with nutrients. Cyanobacteria and algae are typically found in water and are prone to drying when exposed to sun and wind. The fungal partner provides shade and protection from desiccation by sheltering the algae within its body. As a result, lichens are incredibly drought-resistant and can be found in a wide variety of habitats including some of the most extreme environments Earth has to offer. In fact the Rosette Lichen or Physica dubia grows in both Antarctica and the Mojave Desert!
Lichens are not just interesting from a biological perspective, but also a chemical one. Lots of lichens create and exude a suite of chemicals, the roles of which aren’t entirely known. Some are thought make the lichen distasteful to predators, while others may help block harmful UV rays and increase membrane permeability to facilitate the movement of nutrients, water, and cellular byproducts between algae and fungi.
These chemicals have also attracted the attention of scientists, as some exhibit antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-tumor, and insecticidal properties. Many are being analyzed and tested for a variety of medicinal and household uses and may soon become a key ingredient in a physician’s arsenal. Already, these organisms are utilized by humans in a number of different ways, and have been for hundreds of years.
In some native cultures around the globe, lichens are a part of the traditional diet for both people and livestock. However, most lichens have little nutritional value, are bitter tasting, and some can be toxic. Lichen extracts are also used as natural dyes for wool and cloth with colors ranging from browns and purples, to yellows and oranges. Other uses include the manufacture of perfume, cosmetics and sunscreen, a substitute for hops in brewing beer, and as a key ingredient in litmus paper.
Lichens are also sensitive to air pollution, and for that reason don’t typically grow too close to human habitation. In fact, lichens absorb pollutants into their tissues and for that reason can play an important role as an indicator species for pollution problems. As air pollution becomes more widespread, lichen species could be in danger of being lost. And because we have only scratched the surface of what these amazing organisms can do, who knows what future medicine could be lost along with it.
I could go on, as I have only scratched the surface of what these organisms can do. And in the coming years, I think we’ll hear of even more lichen-based breakthroughs in science and medicine. The next time you pass a colorful, lichen-covered rock, take a closer look at these incredible organisms and pause for a moment to wonder about the mysteries, and possible answers, that lie within.
For the Stokes Nature Center and Wild About Utah, this is Andrea Liberatore.
Center for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science. Lichen Chemistry. Sahyadri E-news. Issue 34. Formerly available online at: https://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/biodiversity/sahyadri_enews/newsletter/issue34/lichens_chemistry/lichen_chemistry.pdf See https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257213745_Sahyadri_Shilapushpa_Lichen_Chemistry [Link updated Dec 1, 2023]
Tap roots grow deep to seek groundwater Photo Courtesy & Copyright Mark Larese-Casanova, Photographer
Winterfat trichomes Hair-like trichomes provide shade and absorb dew Photo Courtesy & Copyright Mark Larese-Casanova, Photographer
Prickly Pear Cactus Fibrous roots quickly absorb water and store it in wide succulent leaves Photo Courtesy US FWS Gary M. Stolz, Photographer
Waxy Creosote Bush Leaf coating inhibits desication Photo Courtesy & Copyright Mark Larese-Casanova, Photographer
Hi, this is Mark Larese-Casanova from the Utah Master Naturalist Program at Utah State University Extension.
Anyone who lives in Utah knows that it’s a dry state. In fact, around three-quarters of our state is considered desert. A desert is often characterized as an area that receives less than ten inches of precipitation each year. But, high levels of evaporation, which are influenced by temperature, wind speed, and solar radiation, also contribute to creating a dry desert ecosystem.
So, how exactly are plants able to survive in Utah’s deserts, which are so dry? It turns out that the plants that grow and flourish in Utah’s deserts have an amazing array of adaptations for survival.
Many shrubs and trees, such as desert willow, and certain species of sagebrush and mesquite, have thick taproots that grow deep into the soil to reach groundwater. This helps the plants survive the hot, dry summer. Some mesquite taproots have been found to grow as deep as 200 feet to reach a constant water supply.
Cacti, such as the various types of prickly pear, have almost an opposite adaptation. They produce dense tufts of fibrous roots just below the surface of the soil. This allows cacti to quickly absorb water from brief rainstorms, and then store the water in their thick, succulent leaves.
As temperature increases, desert plants face the danger of excessive water loss from their leaves. A thick, waxy coating on the outside of leaves often helps to retain water. The shiny wax also reflects sunlight to keep the leaves relatively cooler. To further reduce leaf temperature and water loss, some plants, such as brittlebush, grow light-colored dense ‘hairs’ on their leaves and stems. These trichomes not only shade the plant, but also aid in absorbing water from morning dew.
If temperatures get too hot, and drought stress too great, some plants, such as creosote bush and ocotillo, may drop their leaves several times each year to ensure survival. Some of these plants have green chlorophyll in their stems so they can still produce food through photosynthesis when there are no leaves on the plant.
While this is just a sample of an amazing collection of adaptations, it’s clear that desert plants are champions of survival in a harsh ecosystem where water is so scarce.
For Wild About Utah, I’m Mark Larese-Casanova.
Credits:
Images: Courtesy & Copyright Mark Larese-Casanova
US FWS images.fws.gov
Text: Mark Larese-Casanova, Utah Master Naturalist Program at Utah State University Extension. Additional Reading:
