Xanthoria wall belongs to the genus of lichens. They, in turn, are a hybrid combination of fungus and algae. Therefore, in full measure, this mysterious organism cannot be called either a plant or a mushroom.
Xanthoria lichen wall is a yellowish or orange growths most often rounded. For its color, it got its second name, "Zolotyanka", although the xanthoria is yellow only if it grows on the sunny side of the tree, in other cases the lichen has a grayish-green color.
Where does he live?
Xanthoria parietina, the so-called lichen scientifically, grows on almost the entire territory of the Northern Hemisphere. It is especially common in deciduous forests of temperate climates. Xanthoria also sometimes appears on coniferous trees, preferring dried branches. He loves the wall xanthoria rotten, already dead trees, and sometimes even settles on a stone surface - boulders and rocks. In addition to the natural environment, you can notice this lichen on old wooden houses and fences.
What does it eat?
All the nutrients necessary for its vital activity are obtained from the air, the water contained in it, water vapor and those water droplets that remain on the surface of the lichen after rain. Xanthoria does not parasitize on a tree, that is, it does not use plant resources to support its life. Therefore, if a xanthoria has appeared on your garden trees, do not be alarmed and do not rush to try to remove it by all means - it is absolutely harmless to the plants on which it lives. They are for the wall xanthoria represent only a habitat.
How does it breed?
In the photo of the wall xanthorium, special sections are visible, in the depths of which the lichen spores mature. They are carried by the wind or carried by various insects, such as ticks that feed on golden calves. Reproduction, like growth, in xanthoria is very slow. So, over the year, the body of the lichen increases by only 1 mm in area.
Benefit and harm
As already mentioned, the wall station does not parasitize plants, therefore, does not do them any harm. However, if the lichen appeared on a wooden structure, then this may be a sign that it is starting to rot. In this case, the golden calf can contribute to the process of decomposition of wood, because because of it sunlight does not get on a rotten place, moisture does not evaporate - the tree deteriorates faster.
Very little is known about the beneficial properties of xanthoria. In ancient times, lichens were actively used in medicine, doctors of that time treated them with those organs whose shape they resembled. Of course, over time, practice has shown that this method is not effective.
Later, an attempt was made to use xanthoria as a medicine for jaundice, perhaps the basis for this was the color of the lichen. The experiment was also unsuccessful.
Dyes and even cosmetics were made on the basis of xanthoria, but these methods of using it for economic purposes did not justify themselves and remained in the distant past. Now Xanthoria parietina has no practical use, although research on the discovery of the beneficial properties of lichen continues.
However, do not think that xanthoria is a completely worthless creation of nature. It is a valuable and nutritious animal feed in the cold winter. Moose, deer, hares often peel a lichen from the bark of trees to feed themselves in the hungry years, because over the summer enough nutrients have accumulated in it to provide life.
Lichens, including xanthoria, can also help a lost traveler to determine the cardinal directions and find a way home. Zolotiananka, like her other brethren, prefers the sunny, southern side of the tree, stone on which she settled for her dwelling. If the xanthoria grows on the entire surface, then its color will become a guideline for you - from the south it will be yellow or orange, from the north it will be much paler or even gray.
Purity thermometer
Due to the fact that lichens as a whole are very resistant to adverse environmental conditions (they easily tolerate heat and frost, easily cope with drought, and only react negatively to the anthropogenic factor), they began to be used as bioindicators. Lichen is placed in an environment in which they want to identify the negative impact of economic activity. If he dies, this means that human influence detrimental to nature has been detected and it is urgent to restore the ecological situation in this place in order not to aggravate the situation even more.
Natural beauty
Nature is the best artist, sometimes she creates real masterpieces. Just look at the photo of Xanthoria parietina, or the golden reed! These brightly colored lichen overgrowths with bizarre, ornate patterns are eye-catching. And people are more creative they also inspire creativity. Recent fashion trends urge us to look closely at natural motives, things created from natural materials. The trend is jewelry made from what Mother Nature gave us. Therefore, in stores you can see various pendants, brooches, earrings, inlaid with the same xanthoria wall! Her pieces look good under glass or in amber. Such an original jewelry will take its rightful place in the box of any fashionista. Or maybe you can do something unusual with your own hands using this improvised material. Even if you are still far from creating jewelry masterpieces, take into account the arsenal of wonderful crafts made from xanthoria. You can make them with your children by telling them before that an informative story about lichens.