Lungwort Lichen | White Mountain Plant Wiki

Lungwort Lichen in the White Mountains — Lungwort Lichen reference photo

Overview

A large, leafy green lichen draping tree trunks in rich, old forests - its lobes resemble lung tissue, inspiring the name "lungwort."

Ecology

A large foliose epiphyte of humid, old-growth woods (Lobaria pulmonaria) that materially enriches nutrient cycles. Housing both green algae and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria in its thallus, it adds bioavailable nitrogen to bark and throughfall, fertilizing the moss - lichen layer and the soil below. Broad, water-holding lobes intercept cloud moisture and moderate bark microclimate while providing forage for gastropods and nest material/camouflage for birds. Extremely sensitive to air pollution, bark desiccation, and canopy fragmentation; healthy mats signal clean air and long forest continuity. Disperses mainly by soredia/isidia, so recovery is slow where populations are lost.

Sources and References

Howker Ridge Plant Dataset (NH48)

Core Facts

Scientific Name

Lobaria pulmonaria

Type

Lichen

Habitat

Humid, shaded woodlands with mature trees; grows on bark of both hardwoods and conifers (and occasionally mossy boulders) in clean, moist air

Bloom Period

Non-flowering (lichen; reproduces via powdery soredia year-round, with rare spore-bearing structures)

Conservation Status

Regionally, Lungwort Lichen is an uncommon but significant species. It is not globally rare - it has a broad circumboreal range - but it has declined in areas with air pollution or loss of old-growth habitat. In some parts of Europe it's become scarce (even legally protected) due to sensitivity to sulfur dioxide and forest clearing. In New England, it persists in pockets of mature forest; in New Hampshire it's considered an indicator of high-quality woodland but not listed as endangered. As long as clean air and damp, shaded woods are available, this lichen can flourish and even form extensive colonies on favorable trees. Conservation of older forests and good air quality indirectly benefit it. While not at immediate risk in the White Mountains region (where many forests are protected and air is relatively clean), Lungwort Lichen reminds us of the value of intact ecosystems - its presence is a reassuring sign of environmental health. It has no special conservation status here, but its sensitivity makes it a natural barometer of forest air purity and continuity.