Museum lichen collection. Collection of lichen specimens at the Natural History Museum of Turin, Italy. Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed of a fungus and an alga that mutually benefit one another. The alga is contained within the hyphae (filaments) of the fungus. They are therefore protected from harsh conditions, and in particular from dessication. The alga supplies the fungus with nutrients that it makes by photosynthesis. This collection is one of the most important and comprehensive in Italy.