Mosses and Lichens

Below are examples of mosses and lichens you might encounter in or above the intertidal on exposed shores. I haven’t discovered too many, so it’s a small list. Identification is a challenge even with the readily available field guides and online resources (see references at the bottom of the page). I give my photographic take on the mosses and lichens I’ve encountered and add a natural history note if I have something to say. The organization and common names are my choices, and all photos are from northern Oregon unless noted in captions.

Let’s explore some shoreside mosses and lichens!

The moss shown below is from a single rock set back in the cobbles. It gets plenty of sea spray, some splashes, and an occasional dunking, so it’s safe to say this moss has a degree of salt tolerance.

Lage moss- bearing boulder in the foreground; Seaside cliff in the background. The view to the east, away from the sea, toward the cliff.
The seaward face has less moss
The landward face of a large moss-bearing boulder in the foreground; the view is across the beach out to the surf zone and beyond.
The landward face has more moss
Closeup on a patch of moss with beach sand embedded in it.
Wind or surf driven beach sand in the moss
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The lichen shown below is from a single rock set in the cobbles at the back of the beach. It gets plenty of sea spray, some splashes, and an occasional dunking, so it’s safe to say this lichen has a degree of salt tolerance.

Top portion of a lichen-covered boulder in the cobble zone. the view is to the south, with the beach and surf zone to the right and seaside cliff to the left
Lichens are distributed on the landward and seaward faces
Closeup of a white and gray crust against dark brown stone
Closeup from the landward face
Large boulder in the cobble zone, the top half inhabited by patches of light gray lichen. In the distance, seaside cliffs, beach, surf zone.
Lichens on a boulder in the cable zone


References

Kozloff, E. N. 1993. Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast. 3rd ed. University of Washington Press.

Pojar , J. and A. MacKinnon. 194. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing.

Web Resources

USDA PLANTS

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

I updated this page on February 28, 2022