AND green is supposed to be such a soothing colour...

Shots were fired this week as green-eyed camera club members debated the hot topic of the week: does lichen count?

After we asked our normally peaceful contributors to send us snaps on the theme 'green shoots', several challengers sent in controversial images of the plant-fungi hybrid asking whether it counted.

Well, we've decided that despite the fact lichen is neither green nor does it have shoots, we will allow it, if only because both of these shots by Gordon Craig and Ian Marriott are so attractive.

After all, we've also taken this photo by Ian Jones of an early bee investigating some willow tree flowers which is also complete devoid of green shoots.

What's more, it's not clear that Lucas van Vuuren's atmospheric shot of Puzzlewood in Gloucestershire has any green shoots in it per se – that mostly looks like moss on those rocks (though again a beautiful photograph).

So do we have any green shoots in this week's collection?

Well, Michelle Barber, Daniel Lester and William Law all sent pictures of crocuses which, while they may have been green shoots at one point, are neither green nor shoots now.

Alex Wellar, Ann Faulkner, Stephen Travis and Duncan Becker also submitted attractive pictures of various flowers which can't really count either.

Ritesh Vyas provided a beautiful shot of a path disappearing through a farmer's crop – definitely green but probably a bit big to be called 'shoots'.

Becca Collacott and Barry Gibbs also sent shots of lush, verdant vegetation, but far bigger than the 'shooting' stage.

So, in conclusion, colour, size and biological classification are all out the window, but who cares?

As usual you sent your wild, untamed interpretation of the brief and we're lichen them a lot.

Next week's theme is corners: sharp corners, quiet corners, corners you turn or corners you cut – surprised us, you always do.

WIN £25

The Oxford Mail Camera Club, sponsored by Jessops, now has more than 550 members.

You can join by visiting facebook.com and searching for Oxford Mail Camera Club.

See tomorrow’s Oxford Mail for this week’s winner of £25 worth of Jessops vouchers.