Book description
Lichens are fascinating and beautiful organisms able to colonise a vast
range of habitats, including seemingly impossible places such as bare
icy mountain tops and sun-scorched coastal rocks. This book discusses
all aspects of British lichens, revealing the secrets of their success.
This edition is exclusive to newnaturalists. com
Lichens are fascinating and beautiful organisms able to colonise a vast
range of habitats, including seemingly impossible places such as bare
icy mountain tops and sun-scorched coastal rocks. This book discusses
all aspects of British lichens, revealing the secrets of their success.
The book begins by looking at how lichens have been used throughout
history in medicines, dyes, food and perfumes. It then goes on to
describe what lichens are, and how they grow and reproduce. A detailed
survey is given of the range of habitats in which lichens can be found:
on trees, rocks, heaths and moors, chalk and limestone, mountains,
rivers, lakes, the coast, walls and buildings, most famously on churches
and in churchyards. Gilbert also discusses the susceptibility of lichens
to air pollution, and how they can be used to detect environmental pollution.
The comprehensive, reader-friendly text, over 150 illustrations and 16
pages of colour, combine to make Lichens the definitive work on this
subject of great natural history interest. Currently a Reader in the
Department of Landscape Architecture at Sheffield University, Oliver
Gilbert has almost 30 years of teaching and research experience within
universities. He first became aware of lichens whilst working as a
botanist at Malham Tarn Field Centre. This led him to complete a PhD in
the subject of lichens and air pollution. He has a special interest in
applied and urban ecology, and is the author of numerous research papers
and books. He was elected an honorary member of the British Lichen
Society in 1996.
