Why do lichen grow on trees?

Lichens on trees are a unique organism because they are actually a symbiotic relationship between two organisms — fungus and algae. The fungus grows on the tree and can collect moisture, which the algae needs. The algae, in return, can create food from the energy of the sun, which feeds the fungus.
Lichen on tree bark is completely harmless to the tree itself. The rhizines (similar to roots) allow them to attach to the tree but do not go deep enough to harm the tree in any way. Many people believe when a tree becomes sick and has lichen, that the lichens are the cause of the illness. This is impossible and most likely the lichen was there long before the tree became ill.

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