Lichens are extraordinary examples of symbiosis. They are not single organisms but rather partnerships between fungi (the mycobiont) and photosynthetic partners, such as algae or cyanobacteria (the photobiont).

This collaboration allows lichens to thrive in some of the planet’s harshest environments—barren rocks, deserts, and Arctic tundras. Often the first colonizers of bare landscapes, they play a vital role in breaking down rock into soil, paving the way for other life forms.

The term "symbiosis" was coined in 1869 by German botanist Heinrich Anton de Bary while studying lichens, revolutionizing our understanding of cooperative relationships in nature.

Bioverse explores the complex lives of plants and other life forms, drawing inspiration from themes of plant intelligence, symbiosis, hybridity, and evolution.