Surprisingly, two of the dominant life forms in the chaparral are fungi and lichens.
Lichen in old-growth chaparral. Some lichens require at least 50-60 year old chaparral before they will be able to grow. On this dead branch of chamise are two very special lichens. At the top left of the branch is Flavopunctelia faventior. On the lower right, Usnea subfloridana.
The bright green lichen on these old-growth trunks of mission manzanita is Chrysotrix granulosa.
Unknown orange fungus, probably a slime mold, found after the 2003 Cedar fire in San Diego County.
