The Soredia of a Lichen
Soredia are structures that allow lichens to reproduce asexually. They consist of a “package” made up of algal cells wrapped in fungal hyphae, forming dust-like masses on the surface of the lichen, and are spread by rain and wind to new sites where, if conditions are right, they will develop into a new lichen. This method of reproduction ensures that both components of the lichen are dispersed together. The algal cells can just be seen in this image as rounded, greenish masses within the soredium.
(photo/text: George Shepherd)
(Lichens are symbiotic structures consisting of a fungus that has trapped an algae, either green or blue-green algae, the fungus feeds off of the algae’s byproducts from photosynthesis, while the algae does not seem to benefit.)
