[TheForge] OT - Asphalt shingle rot? (Lichen)

[williamsiron at comcast.net]

Jerrry, 



As I recall, lichen is a combination of a fungus and alga. A symbiont relationship. The fungus provides the anchor and the moisture or protection from drying out while the alga provides food from nutrients and photosynthesis. It is not, technically, an air plant. 



Mark Williams 

Snow Hill, Maryland 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Frost" <akfrosty at mtaonline.net> 
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Monday, July 5, 2010 1:51:40 PM 
Subject: Re: [TheForge] OT - Asphalt shingle rot? (Lichen) 

That's an interesting question Bruce but I don't think Lichen is a petrovore 
but evolution has led to stranger things. Having spent several decades 
working on Alaska's highways sometimes in areas where lichen is thick on the 
rocks, I've never once seen lichen growing on asphalt. On rare occasions I 
have seen it growing on the imbeded gravel but not the asphalt itself. It's 
been a long time since I did any reading about lichens, mosses and other 
various terrarium worthy interesting decorative growing things so what I 
remember is not only dated it's from MY brain. 

What I remember about lichen doesn't include what family of plant-like life 
it is for sure, mold comes to mind but I can post pics of the blank spots in 
my head. What I do remember though, is it's an Air plant (if it's actually a 
plant) it only needs air, water, light and a little bit of minerals to 
thrive. Like Pete says it'll eat into rocks as will a number of plants and 
some animals. As I recall from talking to a friend with a degree in biology 
and a love of gardening he says any surface that offers conditions lichen 
can anchor itself to and is rough enough dust won't just rinse off will grow 
lichen. Rock or concrete being different in this respect being as they 
supply the mineral requirement. 

Asphalt shingles are shielded from sunlight by a coat of course sand which 
provides the mineral requirements AND provides a surface dust will not rinse 
out of plus it helps hold moisture to a degree. In short while asphalt 
shingles aren't good lichen food they do make nearly perfect non-rock face 
homes. 

I'm not going to warn YOU about the toxicity of copper sulphate but flower 
boxes and beds will NOT like it where a little copper wire while slower 
working does work. 

Jer 
------------------------- 
If it ain't forged 
It ain't real 
wrought iron is 
The Frostworks 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Freeman" <freemab222 at gmail.com> 
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 6:52 AM 
Subject: Re: [TheForge] OT - Asphalt shingle rot? (Lichen) 


> The copper sulfate idea is appealing and I may give it a try. 
> This morning I just went up on the roof (before the blistering heat 
> that's forecast) and scraped off the patches of lichen and tarred the 
> scraped places.  That will reduce the chance of breaches in the 
> shingles. 
> I wonder whether lichen always could grow on asphalt shingles, or if 
> this is some evolutionary development. 
> 
> -- 
> Bruce 
> NJ 

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