Epiphytes on coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

Summary

Epiphytes are organisms that grow on woody plants but do not take nutrients or other resources from them. Our Santa Barbara Botanic Garden lichenologist studies lichen epiphytes growing in the canopy of coast redwood in three state parks: Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Although coast redwoods appear almost barren of lichens, the lichen community in the canopy is very rich. Over 200 species of lichens have been found in the 15 study trees, including two species new to science: redwood tripe lichen (Xylopsora canopeorum) and redwood needle lichen (Chaenotheca longispora).