Lichens can be seen growing on the trunks of the Brush Box. As they don't shed their bark yearly this gives the Lichen a semi-permanent home.
A lichen has a composite form; that means it is made up of two or more organisms. These are an algae and a fungi . The algae can make carbohydrates through photosynthesis and the fungi uses its hyphae as threadlike roots to cling to the surface of the bark or rock surface and make a home for both. This relationship is called symbiotic and provides a benefit for both, so the relationship is called commensalism.​
Photos R Miller
Both partners gain water and mineral nutrients, mainly from the atmosphere, through rain and dust.
The fungal partner protects the alga by retaining water and by spreading over the surface it makes a larger capture area for mineral nutrients. In some cases, it also provides minerals from the bark or rock.
