What Lichens Are Not Alectoria sarmentosa, witch’s hair, on
Douglas fir trees in the Pacific Northwest. Remember not to
confuse lichens with moss. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest
Service. Cladina arbuscula, also known as reindeer moss, is
surrounded by real moss. This species is rare in Colorado. Photo
by Gay Austin, U.S. Forest Service. Isn't lichen that mossy
stuff on rocks and trees? When people think of lichens, many of
them think of them as a kind of moss. That could not be farther
from the truth. Although moss and lichens are both called non-
vascular plants, only mosses are plants. Mosses are included in
a group of non-vascular plants called bryophytes. Mosses are
believed to be the ancestors of the plants we see today, like
trees, flowers, and ferns. Lichens, on the other hand, are not
similar in anyway to mosses or other members of the plant
kingdom. Look closely at this moss. Notice how leaf-like it is.
The structures on top produce spores. They are the main mode of
moss reproduction. Photo by Char