*; Explores more than 400 species of lichens, alongside full-color photos*; Shows the ways that indigenous peoples of North America have traditionally used lichens for food, clothing, dye, paint, and medicine*; Explains in detail the scientific research behind the potency of lichen chemicals to heal many human conditionsLichensa symbiosis of fungi, algae, bacteria, and yeastcan grow on nearly any surface and thrive in an extremely wide range of environments, including on the International Space Station.