60 Fascinating Alien Lichen Landscapes

Lichens are one of the most beautiful flora nature has to offer. They’re like alien landscapes in miniature. And the sheer variety of shapes, colors, and textures is enough to keep a photographer busy for quite a while!

Lichens are most often found on trees (living or dead) or rocks in damp areas. They can often be found near the shoreline of oceans or lakes, as well as in the forest, in cemeteries (on gravestones) and pretty much anywhere else it’s cool and damp. Whether you take photos of lichens from a distance or close-up, they’re a varied and interesting subject.

Below are sixty lichen photos to give you an idea of the varieties available. Feel free to share your favorites or other lichen photos in the comments.

Green Lichen by kaibara87

Map Lichen by Vik Nanda

Lichen by pfly

Lichen @ Pinnacles by Dawn Endico

Stonewall Rim-Lichen and Bare-Bottom Sunburst Lichen by pellaea

Pixie-Hair Lichen by pellaea

Wolf Lichen on Douglas Fir – Colockum Road by brewbooks

Lichen by Athena’s Pix

British Soldiers Lichen Caldonia Bellidiflora by brewbooks

Club-Mushroom Lichen by pellaea

Lichen by stephcarter

Lichen It by Vik Nanda

Lichen by jenny downing

Lichen at Mt Waterman by steveberardi

Snow, Rock, Lichen 1 by Ctd 2005

Lichen by Paul J. Morris

Lichen by ColinD40

Pixie Cup Lichen by pfly

Brown-Eyed Sunshine Lichen by pellaea

Lichen Landscape by photon ℽ

Variable Wrinkle-Lichen and Coastal Thornbush Lichen by pellaea

Lichen by nojhan

Lichens on a Tree by Steve Newcomb

Lichen Bloom by Arenamontanus

Rock Lichen by Ben Coulson

Yellow Map Lichen by pellaea

Lichens by mricon

Slender Orange Bush Lichen by pellaea

Varied Rag Lichen by pellaea

Lichen by tristrambrelstaff

Armored Fog Lichen by pellaea

Lichen II by mricon

Pixie-Hair Lichen by pellaea

Lichens by kevin.wailes

Elegant Centipede Lichen by pellaea

A Little Lichen by backpackphotography

Lichen by Minette Layne

Enchanted Lichen Trees by Jon Garvin

Lichens and Caterpillar by amy_b

Lichen Bug by lostash

Reddish Lichen by kaibara87

Flashy-Green Lichen by backpackphotography

Armored Seafog Lichen by pellaea

Lichens by jayhem

Lichen by treehouse1977

Lichen by Tim Green aka atoach

Lichen by Paul J. Morris

Lichen & Moss #2 by Jon Garvin

Thrift and Lichen by AdamKR

Autumn Lichen by pfly

Macro Lichens by Three if by Bike

Lichen by wit

Lumpy and Unlickable Lichen by FeatheredTar

Wood Lichen by Nogwater

Lichen 2 by vivevans

Lichen Tooth by Mike McCaffrey

Lichen by Tom Colls

Moss and Lichen by graymalkn

Bouquet Seafog Lichen by pellaea

Reindeer Lichen by bgeissl