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Lichens are a symbiotic association, an example of mutualism, between a heterotrophic fungus (often an Ascomycota) and a photosynthetic organism (often a green alga). Lichens are often categorized into morphological types termed crustose, foliose, and fruticose and are frequently found in harsh environments that would normally not support either of the symbiotic partners alone. Lichens are often the first colonists of rock outcrops and set the stage for the ecological succession of other organisms.
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