Moss and Lichen
Elizabeth LawsonA revealing exploration of mosses and lichens, unsung heroes of the natural world.
This book is a fascinating exploration of mosses and lichens, celebrating the extraordinary biology, beauty and resilience of these unassuming organisms. Endowed with unique superpowers, from enduring desiccation to thriving in extreme habitats, mosses and lichens defy easy categorization. Mosses, integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, a kingdom unto themselves, colonize a great variety of landscapes, from rainforests to deserts and urban pavements. Neglected in the past for their lack of flowers, these organisms now garner recognition for their significant role in maintaining the health of our world’s ecosystem. Elizabeth Lawson’s book shows how they shape landscapes, prevent erosion and sequester carbon, and surveys the biologists, artists and writers who celebrate their importance. Moss and Lichen inspires a newfound appreciation for these unsung heroes of the natural world.
A revealing exploration of mosses and lichens, unsung heroes of the natural world.
This book is a fascinating exploration of mosses and lichens, celebrating the extraordinary biology, beauty and resilience of these unassuming organisms. Endowed with unique superpowers, from enduring desiccation to thriving in extreme habitats, mosses and lichens defy easy categorization. Mosses, integral to the plant kingdom, and lichens, a kingdom unto themselves, colonize a great variety of landscapes, from rainforests to deserts and urban pavements. Neglected in the past for their lack of flowers, these organisms now garner recognition for their significant role in maintaining the health of our world’s ecosystem. Elizabeth Lawson’s book shows how they shape landscapes, prevent erosion and sequester carbon, and surveys the biologists, artists and writers who celebrate their importance. Moss and Lichen inspires a newfound appreciation for these unsung heroes of the natural world.
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Among the smallest terrestrial photosynthetic organisms, mosses and lichens play pivotal ecological roles. And yet they are often, if not typically, overlooked. Elizabeth Lawson’s book succeeds in elevating these diminutive creatures by drawing our attention to their charm and importance. Beautifully written and illustrated, Moss and Lichen should be read by anyone who loves nature and appreciates its manifold complexity and splendour.
'Karl J. Niklas, Cornell University, author of Plant Evolution: An Introduction to the History of Life
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Elizabeth Lawson takes us on an intriguing journey across time, from early interests in observing organisms that occupy the cracks and crevices of our world to the people who investigate and interpret their lives and relationships – all with beautiful illustrations of the organisms and their world.
'Pat Wolseley, Natural History Museum, lichenologist and former president of the British Lichen Society
Introduction: The Cryptogamic Carpet
one: Curious Vegetation
two: Moss: Versatile Minimalist
three: Lichen: Complex Individuality
four: Cosmopolitan Extremophiles
five: Bogland
six: Literary Ecology
seven: Curious Observers: A Field Trip
eight: #moss#lichen
Timeline
References
Further Reading
Associations and Websites
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Elizabeth Lawson is a naturalist, writer and lecturer specializing in horticulture and natural history. A resident of New York, Elizabeth is a former president of the American Primrose Society and her books include Primrose in Reaktion’s ‘Botanical’ series (2019).
