Meditations: Towson Y Nature and the Wider World


This space for speculations, second hand information , that might have importance beyond the specific plants.  Open for comments from those with more specific knowledge.


1. Lead, Lichen, and LOAD (late onset Alzheimer's Disease)  We showed the lichen photos at the Natural History Society.  An observer noted that these trees must have been grown in a more remote possible more southern area which would have been almost free of air pollution, specifically lead pollution.  The east coast has been a lichen desert for years mainly due to lead pollution.  The lichen is not specific to any one tree, and in general lives on the surface of the bark and not harmful.

The same day the internet was observing a possible decrease in Alzheimers and proposing it may be due to the gradual drop in lead after phasing the additive out of gasoline.  Other investigators were looking at the lead Alzheimers association.

So interesting topics, the role of lead in history, lichen as a biological indicator, and trees/ lichen as a secondary indicator of dementia risk.  The lichen here seems to enjoy exuberant growth, does that mean we are at less risk of lead at the Towson Y?  Maybe give the lichen covered trees a hug.

An additional note about lichen.  As an epiphyte it is not dangerous to the tree but it needs light.  Growth of lichen can be an indicator of canopy dieback, fewer leaves, more light for the lichen.
So these trees may be stressed from something else.


Lichen covered trees may have been raised elsewhere with  less lead
It seems to grow well at Towson Y now.


Here is a photo of a flower unknown from Western Maryland.  In retrospect it might have been obvious.  If you lived here continuously, had a sense of place, you would have known it was coltsfoot.  Or even if your visits were mainly summer you would know the plant along all the roads and paths, in a similar concentration: coltsfoot.  So identifications are easier if you know all the seasons or at least know what is common in the growing season.

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