Tree pretends to be a ghost

Tree pretends to be a ghost -- forest, lace lichen, tree

In fact, the gray stringy thing which hangs from the tree is not a Halloween decoration; it is called Lace Lichen and grows where the climate is cool and humid and where there is little sun. Lace Lichen does not harm the trees; it is found on the branches that have already died from lack of sunlight. A lichen is combination of a fungus and a green alga. Deer like to eat this lichen, and birds carry it off for nesting materials.

2011/11/point-lobos

Point Lobos, Carmel, California, USA

forest, lace lichen, tree (usa, usa california, carmel, point lobos, plant, north america, california, living thing, nature, r3)