Lichen thus share some of the habitat and often similar appearance with specialized species of algae (aerophytes) growing on exposed surfaces such as tree trunks and rocks and sometimes discoloring them.
lˈaɪkən ðˈʌs ʃˈɛɹ sˌʌm ʌvðə hˈæbɪtˌæt ænd ˈɔfən sˈɪmɪlɚɹ ɐpˈɪɹəns wɪð spˈɛʃəlˌaɪzd spˈiːsiːz ʌv ˈælɡiː ˈɛɹoʊfˌaɪts ɡɹˈoʊɪŋ ˌɔn ɛkspˈoʊzd sˈɜːfɪsᵻz sˈʌtʃ ɐz tɹˈiː tɹˈʌŋks ænd ɹˈɑːks ænd sˈʌmtaɪmz dɪskˈʌlɚɹɪŋ ðˌɛm.