Lookout for 2007 - deer lichen and friends

Let's look at some plants commonly called deer moss. Previously I said "possibly endangered". The photo on the left above shows deer moss, a reindeer lichen, Cladonia evansii. The photo on the right shows a lichen that often grows with it. People talked about deer moss during my first five years on the Emerald Coast in the NW Florida panhandle. The natural environment is extensive in Pt. Washington State Forest and Deer Lake State Park. Almost everywhere I walk in the woods, I see these life forms in countless fantastic arrays, seeming to bubble up all over the place. First I was told it was "Reindeer Moss". It didn't look like familiar rich green moist moss. The deer here are not reindeer. Every once in awhile a new fact would come, such as: they grow on the ground, not in the ground; they have no roots. You can carry a piece to another location, set it down, and it continues to grow (sometimes). A big chunk could be 40 years old (or 100 or more). When the air is wet, the moss is soft and flexible. When the air is dry or in hot sun, the moss is stiff and brittle. Some parts are reproductive, some are not, and they look different. I hear more common names such as deer lichen, reindeer lichen, dixie lichen.

In the spring of 2007, a prominent horticulturist who has consulted to major local developers revealed a shocking fact. Not only are some of these strange life forms endangered, they are largely unknown in the sense that she is unable to categorize or describe them precisely, because information is hard to find. Deer lichen is a worthy cause. Far from being a biologist, I won't do academic studies, but find basic facts and get to know these beings. Reindeer moss is a family of plants; it is a lichen. Various species are found worldwide, even in the arctic; there are 14 species in North America and two species locally in NW Florida. There are no reindeer here, but if there were, they might eat it. The plan is to document deer lichen in a small area (see map). As I go, visions come. For a list of them, see the visionary Visions section on the topics page. That also includes links. See also the Wholeo Blog for updates, called the Deer Moss Diaries or Deer Lichen Blog.

Set Sights on Sites

Within the area are several neighborhoods or sites. As I bring them online they come on in chronological order, as follows. When adding more images, info, or movies about a site, I add to that site number in chronological order.

1. Eastern Lake Trail
1. Point Washington State Forest (under development)
2. Image of (possible) red jesters published 2007-3-22
3. N of 30-A contingent to Cassine Trail access to Pt. Washington State Forest, Cladonia prostrata. Published 2009-01-18
4. N of 30-A contingent to Cassine Trail access to Pt. Washington State Forest, wet Cladina evansii. Published 2009-02-05
5. N of 30-A contingent to Cassine Trail access to Pt. Washington State Forest, Deer Lichen Diversity. Published 2009-03-26
2. Heron's Watch Way
1. NE of Eastern Lake, forest Sanctuary panorama Published 2004-12-27
2. NE of Eastern Lake, forest deer lichen panorama Published 2007-3-29
3. NE of Eastern Lake, forest deer lichen overview panorama Published 2007-04-05
4. NE of Eastern Lake, forest deer lichen with Chunk Tets Visions movie Published 2007-04-05
5. NE of Eastern Lake, forest WWP307 - deer lichen lives on air panorama Published 2007-04-07
6. NE of Eastern Lake, path Nature trail to and from lake Published 2007-12-20
3. Scenic 30A Deer Lake State Park
1. SW of Deer Lake, highway deer lichen beside Scenic 30A video Published 2007-07-05, + 3.1a (before mowing), + 3.1b (2008 spared mowing)
2. SW of Deer Lake, highway five year item under Lookout Published 2007-07-05
3. SW of Deer Lake, highway nine images, deer lichen patchwork Published 2007-09-06, + 3.3a 08-05-15
4. SE of Deer Lake, WWP907 - Deer Lichens to Eat, Litter, and Evolve Published 2007-09-27
5. In park, New leaf in old deer lichen photo Published 2008-05-01
4. Off the grid or out of neighborhood
1. Imagine, Evolution - Deer Moss of the Mind Published 2007-05-10
2. Photo - Deer lichen with Red Published 2007-08-23
3. Imagine, Evolution - Multiple Symbiosis Published 2007-09-13
4. St. Joseph Bay Buffer and Aquatic Preserve Deer Moss Diaries or Deer Lichen Blog Published 2007-10-07
5. Camp Helen State Park - new plant is deer lichen Published 2009-01-15
6. Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park - Deer lichens Published 2009-03-11 + 4.6a 09-04-02 + 4.6b 09-04-24
5. Eden Gardens State Park
1. Nature walk - Communing with Deer Lichen video Published 2007-08-30
6. Lakewood
1. By sidewalk - Lakewood Dr. N Discovered 2007-08-30
2. Vacant lot - Lakewood Dr. S Published 2009-03-05

This is deer lichen path 0. . On each related page, find a deer lichen path icon that links back here or forward to Lookout 2008, MindField (devoted to visions) or Lookout 2009, Perspectives (devoted to facts). Back to Lookout.

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