Northwest Lichenologists
  • Home
  • Forum
  • How fast can Cladonia colonize a boot?

How fast can Cladonia colonize a boot?

  • 19 Feb 2016 6:13 PM
    Message # 3833173

    Hi All,

    Christina Veverka wondered if I could give an age estimate for the Cladonia on this boot (see posted photo). My thought was that Cladonia colonizes soil and old logs pretty quickly, so I thought around 10 years. The podetia have cups off of cups, so they are at least two years old, after colonization. But I think the critical question is how long does it take for the boot leather to become acceptable habitat? Any ideas? Has anyone watched it happen to your boots?

  • 20 Feb 2016 1:48 PM
    Reply # 3834247 on 3833173

    Richard alerted me that you were discussing my photo of Emily Watrous's dad's boots.  I will post two other photos.  One a slightly closer stereo view and the other, an extreme closeup.


    I know imprecisely the history of these boots.  They were in Emily's dad's backyard somewhere in the Shohomish River valley (up along Rt. 2 east of Everett, WA) for a great many years (more than 10).  If Emily is still living over where she was 2 1/2 years ago, I will attempt to find out more information AND, if the boots are still on the front stoop, get a new photo to see if there is any additional growth.  Of course, we all know that lichen growth is very site-specific, so any growth in Bellingham would not necessarily correspond to growth in the Snohomish valley.  But it would be a start.

  • 20 Feb 2016 3:40 PM
    Reply # 3834364 on 3833173
    I had deleted my comment and your most-distant-boots-habit photo, but am posting it again as it compliments your 2 other photos so well.




    Last modified: 20 Feb 2016 3:46 PM | Richard Droker

© Northwest Lichenologists

NWL Privacy Policy

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software