Seaside Lichens

Seaside Lichens,
August 12, 2015,
The Ocean Blog,
Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History,

Very few plant species can survive close to the ocean, where pounding surf fills the air with tiny salt crystals. Too much salt is not good for us, and it is not good for most plants. When you think about it, the land side of the seashore is a really harsh environment, with crashing waves, salty spray and a constantly moving shoreline. Living things need special adaptations to survive there.