Lichen & Alga

Lichen, as you all know, is a symbiotic union between a fungus and an alga. Most of New Zealand’s lichens have a green alga as the photosynthesis partner. They are not usually so obvious as this combination, which leads me to suspect it is coincidental here. Both the lichen, Parmelina labrosa, I think, and the alga are growing on a poly breather pipe.

EDIT: It seems that the belief in a combination of two organisms may be out of date. See the link on Kimb's comment below. Very interesting.

More lichen.

A dark day with non-stop rain. I had to dash out to get this shot, which I have been saving for such an occasion.

Several waxeyes have been sheltering on the veranda. Each time I go out there is a flurry of little wings.