Lichens
By: William Purvis.
Contributors: Natural History Museum (London, England)
Series: Natural world series
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press in association with the Natural History Museum, London
Published: 2000
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 112
Subjects: Lichens
Description: "The book starts by looking at how lichens have been used throughout history in medicines, dyes, food and perfumes. It then goes on to describe what lichens are, and how they grow and reproduce. A detailed survey is then given of the range of habitats in which lichens can be found: on trees, rocks, heaths and moors, chalk and limestone, mountains, rivers, lakes, the coast, walls and buildings, most famously on churches and in churchyards. Drawing on his broad experience in this field, Gilbert also discusses the susceptibility of lichens to air pollution, and how they can be used to detect levels of environmental pollution."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 111) and index.
Table of contents: title: What is a lichen? --; title: How lichens grow, multiply and disperse --; title: Lichen biodiversity --; title: Evolution, classification and naming --; title: Ecological role --; title: Lichens in forests --; title: Lichens in extreme environments --; title: Biomonitoring --; title: Prospecting and dating --; title: Economic uses --; title: Practical projects.