Moss & Lichen Quiz

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Discover the tiny but mighty world of mosses and lichens! Test your knowledge of these ancient, fascinating organisms.

1.
What is a lichen actually composed of?
A
A fungus and an alga living together
B
A type of moss
C
A single plant species
D
A parasitic vine
2.
Which type of moss is commonly used in floral arrangements and terrariums for its feathery texture?
A
Spanish Moss
B
Sheet Moss
C
Peat Moss
D
Reindeer Moss
3.
Spanish Moss, which hangs from trees in the American South, is actually not a moss at all. What is it?
A
A flowering plant (bromeliad)
B
A fungus
C
An algae
D
A lichen
4.
Sphagnum moss is commercially important because it is harvested and sold as what garden product?
A
Peat moss
B
Fertilizer
C
Compost starter
D
Mulch
5.
Lichens are often used as indicators of what environmental condition?
A
Wind patterns
B
Water temperature
C
Air quality
D
Soil fertility
6.
What is the common saying about which side of a tree moss tends to grow on in the Northern Hemisphere?
A
The south side
B
The west side
C
The north side
D
The east side
7.
"Reindeer Moss" is actually a type of what?
A
Lichen
B
Algae
C
True moss
D
Liverwort
8.
Mosses lack which plant structure that most other plants have?
A
The ability to photosynthesize
B
Chlorophyll
C
Cell walls
D
True roots, stems, and leaves
9.
What color does the lichen called "British Soldiers" (Cladonia cristatella) display on its tips?
A
Yellow
B
Blue
C
Orange
D
Bright red
10.
In Japanese gardening, moss is prized and cultivated. What famous Kyoto temple is known as the "Moss Temple"?
A
Ginkaku-ji
B
Ryōan-ji
C
Saihō-ji (Kokedera)
D
Kinkaku-ji
11.
Which type of lichen grows in a leaf-like, flat, lobed form on rocks and tree bark?
A
Crustose lichen
B
Foliose lichen
C
Squamulose lichen
D
Fruticose lichen
12.
Peat bogs formed from Sphagnum moss can preserve organic material for how long?
A
A few centuries
B
A few decades
C
Only a few years
D
Thousands of years
13.
What do mosses use instead of true roots to anchor themselves to surfaces?
A
Tendrils
B
Rhizoids
C
Adhesive pads
D
Stolons
14.
Lichens can survive in extremely harsh environments. Where have scientists found living lichens?
A
Inside volcanic lava tubes only
B
Deep ocean floors
C
Outer space experiments
D
Underground caves only
15.
What is the traditional use of Oakmoss lichen (Evernia prunastri) in the fragrance industry?
A
As a fabric softener
B
As a soap colorant
C
As a food coloring
D
As a base note fixative in perfumes

Answer Key

Question 1

A. A fungus and an alga living together

Question 2

B. Sheet Moss

Question 3

A. A flowering plant (bromeliad)

Question 4

A. Peat moss

Question 5

C. Air quality

Question 6

C. The north side

Question 7

A. Lichen

Question 8

D. True roots, stems, and leaves

Question 9

D. Bright red

Question 10

C. Saihō-ji (Kokedera)

Question 11

B. Foliose lichen

Question 12

D. Thousands of years

Question 13

B. Rhizoids

Question 14

C. Outer space experiments

Question 15

D. As a base note fixative in perfumes

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org