RED BATON ROUGE LICHEN or CHRISTMAS LICHEN (Cryptothecia rubrocincta) IN A BALD CYPRESS SWAMP - Stockfoto

RED BATON ROUGE LICHEN or CHRISTMAS LICHEN (Cryptothecia rubrocincta) IN A BALD CYPRESS SWAMP. Lichens are a good example of a SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP of two organisms living together. A Lichen is composed of a Photosynthetic Algae (providing nutrients like glucose) and a Fungus that forms the bulk of the structure of the lichen. They both live in a mutually beneficial relationship sometimes referred to as MUTUALISM. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Southern Florida.