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fruticose thallus

Also known as: stalked thallus

Quick Summary

A fruticose thallus is a shrub-like, often branched structure that grows perpendicular to the surface it's attached to. This is one of the three main growth forms of lichens, which are complex organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi (mycobiont) and algae or cyanobacteria (phycobiont). Fruticose lichens, along with crustose (crust-like) and foliose (leafy) forms, represent different ways lichens adapt to their environments. Fruticose lichens are typically found in humid, foggy areas like seacoasts and mountainous regions.12

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