Lichen

Lichens were a type of composite organism, often confused for being solely a plant or fungi, when in fact they were a composite of both. They could be found in various places across the Realms.

Description
Lichen came in a wide variety of forms and colorations. There were many poisonous varieties, some that were capable of defending themselves, some that were bioluminescent, and some that were phosphorescent. Bioluminescence was somewhat of a rare trait for lichen.

Habitats
On the surface of Toril, one could find lichen in a variety of locations, including the Cormanthor forest's starwood area, the Dessarin Valley's northern moors, and the Plains of Purple Dust.

They were most abundant underneath the surface of Toril, in the area known as the Underdark, where they and other vegetation received nourishment from the ambient faerzress. Areas particularly diverse in lichen included the cavern of Ched Nasad, Fluvenilstra, Gduar's Garden, and Neverlight Grove.

Phosphorescent and bioluminescent lichen were common in the Underdark, though the latter were were more common in the Upperdark than the Middledark. Both could be found in parts of the Wormwrithings. A silvery-blue variety could be found all across the ceiling of Iltkazar's cavern. The fortress Maelstrom had many rooms decorated in bioluminescent lichen. And Neverlight Grove had blue, violet, and yellow bioluminescent lichen growing across its caverns and larger mushrooms.

Outside of the Prime Material plane, a species of red and black lichen could be found in the Abyss, the realm of the goddess of misfortune Beshaba. The lichen was growing on the wind-blasted rocks of the Blood Tor.

Species

 * Fire lichen: a pale, orange-white lichen that obtained its energy from warmth.


 * High Moor lichen: usually just called "lichen," was variety of lichen that was extremely common in the High Moor and below the surface in the Undermoor. It was especially common on rocks in the High Moor and in the region's bogs. It had a pale, greenish-gray coloration and spread across surfaces with spidery tendrils.


 * Medquat: a crimson species of lichen was found in hollow logs within the starwood. They tasted like lemons and were highly prized in Cormyr. Scorpions were attracted to them.


 * Mikka: a black lichen endemic to the Great Glacier.


 * Wisp lichen: a dangerous, white colored lichen native to the Underdark. It secreted an adhesive that could hold creatures and paralyze them. It would then slowly digest their prey, resulting in their painful and tortuous demise. The true danger of wisp lichen, however, was the fact that many dangerous Underdark predators and scavengers could be found lurking near them, hoping to get a free meal.

Usage

 * Lichen was among the vegetation that denizens of the Underdark used in place of the agricultural crops of the surface, sometimes even using them to brew alcohol. For instance, the cities of Blingdenstone and Iltkazar tended farms of lichen.
 * Lichen was among the forms of Underdark vegetation that cave bears and deep rothé subsisted upon.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Storm King's Thunder &bull; Out of the Abyss
 * Novels
 * Tymora's Luck &bull; Uneasy Alliances