Lichens in Scotland
Lichens are more abundant and better developed in Scotland than in other parts of the British Isles. Many people notice lichens for the first time as they see dense, shaggy coats on tree trunks and rocks - 'old man's beard' hangs to a foot long off branches. Spectacular patches of scarlet-tipped lichens are often found on heathland. Those venturing onto the high ground of the Cairngorm plateau, will find themselves in a wilderness dominated by lichens.
In the past lichens played an important role in the Scottish economy. They were used for dyeing, both on a domestic scale and in supplying the manufacturers of the world-famous Harris tweed with their shades from orange through to brown. Even now you can bring back a jersey knitted with lichen-dyed wool as a memento of a visit to Scotland. The only naturalised reindeer in Britain are found in the Highlands where they live for much of the year on the lichen known as 'reindeer moss'.
From the point of view of Scotland's natural heritage, many of the lichen communities in western Scotland are unequalled anywhere in Europe and so are of international importance.
Particularly Scottish are:
- the Celtic rain forests,
- Caledonian pinewoods,
- Atlantic hazelwoods,
- the lichens of the vast bird colonies on islands such as St Kilda,
- the montane communities are exceptional, where a single mountain can exceed in diversity the combined lichen floras of Snowdonia and the English Lake District.
This booklet provides an introduction to these riches.