Because all the leaves are now gone and most everything has turned to brown or grey, I start to notice those plants that still have a bit of color. Lungwort is a lichen, this one is growing on the surface of a downed tree.
Because its surface somewhat resembles lungs, ancient physicians used it as a cure for pneumonia and lung disease. I have always found it interesting how in days past, “medicine” was quite often used, based on its appearance.
The Gitksan people of BC gave the lungwort a name which meant “frog’s blanket’, again named because of the way it looked. It has the scientific name: Lobaria pulmonaria, which is one of the few scientific names that rhymes.
I paint every day, see my paintings at: www.davidmarchant.ca
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