Lichens and higher plants on stone: a review

This review article deals with the site and colonization mode of plants and lichens on the wall of historical buildings, freezes and statues. Higher plants and lichen colonization is essentially conditioned by the adaptability of the species and the efficiency of their mode of reproduction. A list of the more common plants and lichens living on historical building is given as well as the type of damage. Nine niche types are distinguished for plants. The chemical and mechanical effects of plant colonization of walls, and the methods of conserving the aesthetic and functional integrity of the walls, are also presented and discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.