Lilacs are small shrubs or trees , range in size from around 6 to 32 foot in top and are best known for their fragrant flower clusters . They blossom in mid - fountain through early summertime and are often lilac colored , but can be white , pallid pink , yellow or even dark burgundy . They are impact by a mixed bag of pests and organism such as green lichen , which often is misguided for a type of fungus on the tree .

Lichen

Lichens are symbiotic organisms of fungus and green or dark - green alga that grow together on Tree and other plants . The fungus is capable to provide water and nutrients from the air and tree , while the alga are able to provide carbohydrate and photosynthetic nutrient . They of course grow on John Rock , barque and dirt and are harmless to trees and the environs .

Nitrogen

Lichens are lifelike nitrogen - fixers , capturing nitrogen from the tune and adding it to the filth when they begin to decompose , where other plants are able to absorb it . Although both the fungus and alga of lichen are able to live and multiply on an individual basis , this unique power is only potential when the symbiotic kinship occurs .

Pollution

Lichens are very sensitive to air pollution and will typically not mature in smokey or polluted surround . Scientists now use lichen as a way to test the breeze caliber of specific locations . The University of Illinois states that air travel pollution made it impossible for lichens to rise in Illinois during the 1970s , but that has start out to modify in 2000 . Lichens are since very common to Illinois and the Midwestern region of the United States .

Lichen on Bark

As a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grow in size , lichen are ineffective to attach themselves to the extending bark . Small patches may develop , consisting of only a few inches . If larger lichen attach themselves to the lilac tree , there is possibly a deeper problem with the tree ’s health . A motley of disease , nutrient deficiencies and plague can reduce a lilac tree diagram ’s ability to grow by sapping important resources from the being .

Lilac Growth

Lilacs that are cured of illness or disease are sometimes able to develop again in time . They need full sun and well - enfeeble grime to properly flower and reproduce . Removing one - third of the honest-to-goodness stems at ground level ever year for three full years can advance unexampled growth from the pedestal and serve destroy dead , discredited or diseased branches . Lichen should never be slay by hired man due to the environmental benefit they provide . Instead , let the organism naturally fall away when the tree starts to develop again ; this will render the land with added nitrogen and will keep the gardener inform of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s respective health .

References

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