Word Title, URL Title Lichens British soldiers, pyxie cups and old man's beard are just three of Missouri's nearly 500 species of lichens. Lichens can survive tough climates by drying out and halting photosynthesis until water is again available. Lichens are often the first life form to colonize bare rock and, as they decay, build soil.
Lichens are very sensitive to pollutants and serve as indicators of air and water pollution.
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