Lichens can thrive on bare rock, but were they the first vegetation to conquer the continents? New molecular phylogenetic results suggest that their evolutionary history may be shorter but also more complex than anticipated. The symbiotic partnership between fungi and a photosynthetic organism has been lost and regained and may also host additional species. Michael Gross reports.

中文翻译：

---

地衣联络员

地衣可以在裸露的岩石上繁衍生息，但是它们是征服大陆的第一批植被吗？新的分子系统发育结果表明，它们的进化历史可能比预期的更短，但也更复杂。真菌与光合生物之间的共生伙伴关系已经丧失并重新获得，并且可能还拥有其他物种。迈克尔·格罗斯（Michael Gross）报告。