12. embed in a Euparal. The algae are red, while the hyfens are blue. Importance of lichens. Lichens are very good bio-indicators to survey the air pollution. The different species are specificaly sensitive for certain concentrations of sulfurdioxid, that the appearance of some species indicates this concentration.
Altough lichens are very good usable as air pollution detector, they have less economical value.
This lichen is not only food for the Reindeer, but in Lapland it's also used as cattle-fodder. Also as a medicine lichens use to have more importance. Species like Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea are used in parfums while Umbilicaria esculenta is on the banquet-menu in Japan.