On 7/1/03 3:26 PM, Iris Cohen wrote:

I know we sometimes discuss lichens here. Not that I would tell anyone not to.
They are a symbiotic combination of a fungus and an alga.
Besides of green algas, there are also cyanobacterias (prokaryotic
blue-green algas) as photosyntetical partner. It depends what you call
'alga'. This is also not *taxonomical*, but common (traditional) name.

Are they still considered plants?
Yes, in *wide* and common meaning of this word. The same as 'alga'.

Is lichenology still a branch of botany? What about mycology?
Yes, traditionally. Or mycology if you wish Lichenology is a branch
of mycology, and mycology is traditionally a brach of botany... ;-P

"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Huh!
Regards,
--
/\/\ichal Smoczyk, msmoczykNOSPAM(at)wp.pl
===delete 'NOSPAM' from my adress===