Collecting Lichens
Lichens are abundant and easily collected, but some special items are helpful. Listed below are those items and how they are best used.
- A 10X magnifier is needed for closeup examinations of the lichens when identificatiion is attempted.
- A pocket knife is useful for detaching lichen from the substrata.
- A short screw driver can be used in removing the bark from some trees.
- Paper bags are used for temporary storage until a permanent place can be provided. Be sure to label each bag including all data.
- A pencil is used to label each bag and to make entries into the field journal.
- A field journal is necessary for data collection for the lichens.
- Small limb trimming clippers are useful for the collection of small branch segments.
- Field data (an item of great importance) should include location, substrata, date, other lichens resent, collector, and environment.