All a-lichen in dignity. In fair Canada, where we lay our scene...

May 28, 2020 5:12 PM

In February, the Canadian Museum of Nature asked Canadians to vote for their favourite lichen. Behold the star-tipped reindeer — Canadians' top pick for a national lichen. Watch Dr. Troy McMullin, lichenologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, present the Star-tipped Reindeer Lichen as the top vote-getter from the national lichen vote.

Lichen, previously:

Don't lick sexy pavement lichen

For the love of lichen

The caribou guardians

Lichens are not just fun guys

Lichens

posted by mandolin conspiracy (12 comments total)

After drafting a criteria and consulting with scientists across the country, McMullin narrowed the nominations to seven lichen eligible for the national vote: Boreal oakmoss, common freckle pelt, concentric ring, elegant sunburst, horsehair, star-tipped reindeer or yellow map. [...]

Looking over the short list, McMullin admits each lichen is worthy of the national title. "They are spectacular and they're unusual and very bright and showy," McMullin said.

With him right up until "showy."
Also, blue felt lichen or GTFO.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:25 PM on May 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

With him right up until “showy” .

The winner is great and showy imo! I knew reindeer ate a lot of lichen but never really thought about what types.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:47 PM on May 28, 2020

I'm lichen this...
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:11 PM on May 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

I'm sure most Canadians have seen it when they get out of a canoe in the boreal forest and they step down onto some rock outcrops and they hear it crunch beneath their feet."


But there's no need to feel guilty if you've crushed it underfoot. That's what it's made for.

"That's actually how it reproduces," McMullin said.

"The little spikes that are formed on it, when a caribou, let's say, steps on it, they'll break off as little fragments and they get stuck in the hair on the caribou and get carried to a new place."

I guess it could be down to Covid19, but it really looks more like McMullin doesn't want any of the little spiky bits up his nose.
posted by jamjam at 6:38 PM on May 28, 2020

I voted for Concentric Ring lichen, as the connection to Elizabeth Bishop was irresistible.

“The still explosions on the rocks,
the lichens, grow
by spreading, gray, concentric shocks.
They have arranged
to meet the rings around the moon, although
within our memories they have not changed...”

But this one is nice, too. I can support this.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:33 PM on May 28, 2020 [4 favorites]

Capt. Renault, I also voted for Concentric Ring! I am glad to have found another voter because it came in DEAD LAST and I was appalled.
posted by thebots at 9:19 PM on May 28, 2020 [2 favorites]

+1 for the title!
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:40 PM on May 28, 2020 [1 favorite]

Who is lichen unto thee?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:58 AM on May 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

But there's no need to feel guilty if you've crushed it underfoot. That's what it's made for.

"That's actually how it reproduces," McMullin said.

I know for certain I've stepped on a fair bit of it in Northern Ontario. Glad to know I was helping out!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:50 AM on May 29, 2020

I'd be very interested to know just how spiky and crunchy it is, mandolin conspiracy, if you'd care to comment.
posted by jamjam at 11:15 AM on May 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

Love that stuff. My favorite is after a rain when it’s nice and springy. Good work, Canada!
posted by Makwa at 8:05 PM on May 29, 2020 [1 favorite]

It’s crunchy like...dried out cotton candy. It’s quite delicate, and not sharp. If it’s in a sunny, dry spot in the middle of summer you could sink the palm of your hand into it, and it would just kind of crush into powdery debris quite painlessly.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:24 PM on May 29, 2020 [1 favorite]