Is lichen saprophyic or parasitic?

Question

Saprophytic = feeds on dead host
Parasitic = feeds on living host

Lichen feeds on live trees (parasitic) and rocks which are inanimate (saprophytic) Is there a third category for both?

Answer 1

There is evidence to suggest that the lichen symbiosis is parasitic rather than mutualistic (Ahmadjian 1993). The photosynthetic partner can exist in nature independently of the fungal partner, but not vice versa. Furthermore, photobiont cells are routinely destroyed in the course of nutrient exchange. The association is able to continue because photobiont cells reproduce faster than they are destroyed.

Answer 2

There is no such catagory but they are included in both sapro.. as well as parasitic.it differs from its one kind to other.