Lichens of Sedgwick Reserve and Santa Barbara County

Most visitors to Sedgwick Reserve in the Santa Ynez Valley do not immediately take note of the variety and abundance of the intricate and often colorful plant-like organisms that adorn trees, rocks and antiquated remnants of the bygone ranching era. Nearly 150 species of lichen have been identified to date on the 5,896 acre ecological reserve. Lichens serve as an indicator of many geophysical attributes that the UC Natural Reserve System was established to conserve: pollution-free environs, diversity of habitats and even the regularity of fog, a climate feature facing an uncertain future as climate patterns are altered due to human activities both near and far. This guide is meant to bring awareness to the beauty and diversity of lichens. Descriptions are limited to information useful for field identification and technical terms are kept to a minimum. Most of the 56 species described in this guide are “macrolichens,” large and sufficiently recognizable without chemical tests and microscopic examination (both essential for identifying many less noticeable lichens). A total of 150 species of lichens have been collected and identified at Sedgwick Reserve so far; many more are undoubtedly present and waiting to be found. A reference collection of lichens is maintained at Sedgwick Reserve’s herbarium and at CCBER’s herbarium on the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus