Lichens tend to grow slowly. In most years, the lichens shown here (right), increase their diameter by about the width of a sharp pencil line (e.g. 0.3 to 0.4 mm per yr). Like many other living things, the young tend to grow faster than the old. Repeat measurements of tiny lichens (right) show how some parts of a lichen grow faster in some years than in others. |
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© D. McCarthy
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