Final answer:
Lichen amyloidosis is a dermatological condition characterized by amyloid protein deposits in the skin, resulting in raised papules. Unlike environmental lichens which involve a symbiotic relationship between fungi and photobionts, 'lichen' in this medical context refers to the texture of the skin lesions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lichen amyloidosis is a condition related to skin predominantly, rather than the ecology of lichens themselves, which are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photobiont (such as green algae or cyanobacterium). It is named for its similarity in appearance to lichenoid ecologies, but lichen amyloidosis is not classified alongside environmental lichens. Instead, it refers to a chronic skin condition characterized by the presence of amyloid deposits in the skin. These deposits present themselves as multiple raised, hardened papules, which have a 'lichen-like' feel, leading to the name. The condition falls under the broader category of cutaneous amyloidosis, where amyloid proteins accumulate in the skin.
In relation to the provided references about lichens, which cover the classification of lichen as organisms and their diverse forms such as crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens, it's important to differentiate that the term 'lichen' in medicine pertains to the visual and tactile quality of the skin's surface in lichen amyloidosis. As for the amyloid deposits, they are reminiscent of the abnormal protein accumulation in Alzheimer's disease, showing plaques; however, in lichen amyloidosis, these plaques are localized to the skin rather than the brain.
Lichen amyloidosis is a specialized area of study within dermatology, and may require biopsy for diagnosis. The relationship with environmental lichens is purely nominal, and both are studied quite differently within their respective fields: environmental lichens within botany and ecology, and amyloidosis within medical science and dermatology.