Playing with possibilities

lichen

fragile / resilient (thousands of species)

considered plants about 120ish years ago

Greek the word lichen originally meant "to lick"

Romans applied lichen to ringworm

(medicinal plants)

17th century Rome - first used (lichen) for skin diseases

lichen icelandica -> in cough drops

grows in iceland & mountains

plant <- lichen -> fungi

biology <- lichenology -> mycology