Lichenpedia: A Brief Compendium

by Kay Hurley, Susan Adele Edwards (Illustrator)

An illustrated mini-encyclopedia about the weird and wonderful world of lichens

Lichenpedia is a delightfully entertaining and beautifully illustrated A–Z treasury about the strange, obscure, and remarkable world of lichens, from their unique and essential roles in nature and the ways they are used in dyeing, brewing, and drug-making to how they have inspired writers and artists, from Henry David Thoreau to modern painters.

In 100 brief entries written in a vivid, lively style, Kay Hurley introduces key aspects of lichen biology, environmental roles, emerging uses, scientific history, and myth. She describes the variety of forms that lichens take, from leafy to filamentous to things reminiscent of skin diseases, with imaginative names like witch’s hair. She explains the surprising ways that birds and beasts—from reindeer and moose down to tiny tardigrades—use lichens, and how lichens survive in extreme environments, from deserts to Antarctica to outer space. Hurley also introduces some of the innovators who have advanced the knowledge of lichens, from the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus to today’s professional lichenologists.

With charming drawings by Susan Adele Edwards, Lichenpedia promises to put you in touch with the natural world in a new way by opening your eyes to these vital organisms, which are all around us, hidden in plain sight.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biology, Nature, Science

192 pages, Hardcover

Published May 28, 2024

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute and fun read! Especially if you’re looking for nature writing but in a fun, not too intense or dry way. You can flip to any page and read at random if you like or read one segment at a time.

I struggled a bit with some repetitiveness between the different topics and the tone was a bit too sarcastic for me.

I’m excited to check out some of the references.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud funny (which I absolutely did not expect in a book about lichen!). This book did exactly as intended and introduced the wide world of lichen to someone who knew very little about it in accessible bits, and made me interested in deepening my knowledge by exploring the lichen around me.

[Mathieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful! With bits of humor throughout, the writing is great and the presentation of information is kept interesting. The layout is that of an encyclopedia, so it can be used as a reference or just leaf through it to learn a lot about lichens and some history of the understanding of lichens and the people involved. No, it is not an ID book, but general ID tips are provided along with understanding the varieties of lichens that inhabit this world.

[natloveslichen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great book for those new to lichen! It perfectly combines the science with the history and cultural connections of lichen. I also loved the mention of international lichen experts, and emphasis on some of the women in the field. The author also very clearly defines complex-terms for lichen structure in the best way I’ve ever seen as someone new to lichenology. Fantastic book!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally fascinating and written for a general audience, but I doubt its usefulness as an encyclopedia. I read it cover to cover instead of using it for reference, which makes the content a bit scattered, but remains entertaining and awe-inspiring. Lichen IS amazing.

Bonus points for being a gorgeous book in general.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lichenpedia is a slim collection of somewhat random topics having to do with the biology and chemistry of lichens. It's not really a true introduction to the subject, but rather a survey of some of the ways in which these omnipresent organisms make our world a more interesting place.

[sylver · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun little lichen book

[Ash Terry]

Good launch pad for a lot of topics in the lichen world!!

[Aurélien Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who does not love to read about plants? I know I do.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of fascinating facts and useful topics for those interested in lichen. Gorgeous little book, very pleasing to own. Lovely illustrations.