Fruticose lichen

Fruticose lichens have a complex vegetation structure, and are characterized by an ascending, bushy or pendulous appearance.

They grow slowly and often occur in habitats such as on tree barks, on rock surfaces and on soils in the Arctic and mountain regions.

They are encountered in the following classes: Arthoniales, Licinales, Baeomycetales, Candelariales, Lecanorales, Peltigerales, Pertusariales, Teloschistales, and Mycocaliciales, among others.

Fruticose growth forms can be found world-wide in wet humid climates, in temperate rainforests, or in arid conditions.

Lichen biomass accumulation rates decrease from mountain to alpine belts and from tree top to base.