''Usnea'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of mostly pale grayish-green
fruticose
A fruticose lichen is a form of lichen fungi that is characterized by a coral-like shrubby or bushy growth structure. It is formed from a symbiotic relationship of a photobiont such as green algae or less commonly cyanobacteria and one, two or mor ...
lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.[shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...]
s or
tassel
A tassel is a finishing feature in fabric and clothing decoration. It is a universal ornament that is seen in varying versions in many cultures around the globe.
History and use
In the Hebrew Bible, the Lord spoke to Moses instructing him to ...
s
anchored on bark or twigs.
[Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, ] The genus is in the family
Parmeliaceae
The Parmeliaceae is a large and diverse family of Lecanoromycetes. With over 2700 species in 71 genera, it is the largest family of lichen-forming fungi. The most speciose genera in the family are the well-known groups: '' Xanthoparmelia'' ( 822 ...
. It grows all over the world. Members of the genus are
commonly called old man's beard, beard lichen, or beard moss.
[
Like other lichens it is a ]symbiosis
Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...
of two or three fungi
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...
and an alga
Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mi ...
. In ''Usnea'', the fungus belongs to the division Ascomycota
Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The def ...
, while the alga is a member of the division Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta or Prasinophyta is a taxon of green algae informally called chlorophytes. The name is used in two very different senses, so care is needed to determine the use by a particular author. In older classification systems, it refers to ...
.
Members of the genus are similar to those of the genus '' Alectoria''.[ A distinguishing test is that the branches of ''Usnea'' are somewhat elastic, but the branches of ''Alectoria'' snap cleanly off.][
]
Systematics
The genus ''Usnea'' was circumscribed by Michel Adanson
Michel Adanson (7 April 17273 August 1806) was an 18th-century French botanist and naturalist who traveled to Senegal to study flora and fauna. He proposed a "natural system" of taxonomy distinct from the binomial system forwarded by Linnaeus.
...
in 1763. He used the name designated by Johann Jacob Dillenius
Johann Jacob Dillen Dillenius (1684 – 2 April 1747) was a German botanist. He is known for his ''Hortus Elthamensis'' ("Eltham Garden") on the rare plants around Eltham, London, and for his ''Historia muscorum'' ("History of Mosses"), a natur ...
, whose earlier published description did not met the rules of valid publication as established by the . However, he did not specify a type specimen
In biology, a type is a particular wiktionary:en:specimen, specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to a ...
. Since then, hundreds of species have been described. A three-volume series by Józef Motyka
Józef Motyka (23 March 1900 in Kąclowa – 6 July 1984 in Lublin) was a Polish botanist and lichenologist.
Education
He obtained his PhD in 1925 at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow for his studies on the ecology of saxicolous lichens (g ...
published in 1936 and 1947 listed 451 species. By 2006, the genus contained more than 600 species, which made it one of the largest genera within the family Parmeliaceae. However, many former species are now regarded as morphological varieties and adaptations to local circumstances. The number of recognized species in Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
has decreased for this reason, for example, dropping from 34 in 1951 to 25 in 1963 and only 12 in 2000. In addition, some former ''Usnea'' species have been moved to other genera; for instance, ''Usnea longissima'' was renamed ''Dolichousnea longissima
''Dolichousnea longissima'' ( syn. ''Usnea longissima''), commonly known by the names old man's beard or Methuselah's beard lichen, is a fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae.
Description
This lichen is fruticose, with very long stems an ...
'' in 2004. By 2022, the overall number of species assigned to the genus had dropped to 355.
The name ''Usnea'' is probably derived from the Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
word ''Ushnah'', meaning moss or lichen, though it may also mean "rope-like". Based on a fossil ''Usnea'' found in Baltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...
, the genus is known to date back to at least the late Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...
, about 34 million years ago.
Morphology and reproduction
As a fruticose lichen, ''Usnea'' appears as a shrub-like growth on host trees. Unlike other similar-looking fruticose lichens, species in this genus have an elastic chord or axis running through the middle of the thallus that can be revealed by gently pulling a filament apart from either end. It reproduces via vegetative means through fragmentation, asexual means through soredia
Soredia are common reproductive structures of lichens. Lichens reproduce asexually by employing simple fragmentation and production of soredia and isidia. Soredia are powdery propagules composed of fungal hyphae wrapped around cyanobacteria or ...
, or sexual
Sex is the biological distinction of an organism between male and female.
Sex or SEX may also refer to:
Biology and behaviour
*Animal sexual behaviour
**Copulation (zoology)
**Human sexual activity
**Non-penetrative sex, or sexual outercourse
** ...
means through ascogonium and spermatogonium
A spermatogonium (plural: ''spermatogonia'') is an undifferentiated male germ cell. Spermatogonia undergo spermatogenesis to form mature spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules of the testis.
There are three subtypes of spermatogonia in humans:
* ...
. The growth rate of lichens in nature is slow, but the growth rate has been sped up in laboratory conditions where ''Usnea'' is being cultured.
''Usnea'' looks very similar to the plant Spanish moss
Spanish moss (''Tillandsia usneoides'') is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon large trees in tropical and subtropical climates. It is native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the Southern Uni ...
, so much so that the latter's Latin name is derived from it (''Tillandsia usneoides
Spanish moss (''Tillandsia usneoides'') is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon large trees in tropical and subtropical climates. It is native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the Southern Uni ...
'', the 'Usnea-like Tillandsia
''Tillandsia'' is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to ...
').
Ecology
Like other lichens, ''Usnea'' often grows on sick or dying trees due to the pre-existing loss of canopy leaves, allowing for greater photosynthesis by the lichen's algae; this leads some gardeners to mistakenly blame the lichen for the tree's leaf loss and illness.
''Usnea'' is very sensitive to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide (IUPAC-recommended spelling) or sulphur dioxide (traditional Commonwealth English) is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a toxic gas responsible for the odor of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activ ...
. Under poor growing conditions, such as areas high in pollution, they may grow no larger than a few millimetres, if they survive at all. Where the air is unpolluted, they can grow to 10–20 cm long. It can sometimes be used as a bioindicator
A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other sma ...
, because it tends to only grow in those regions where the air is clean, and of high quality.
Uses
Medical claims
According to Paul Bergner, Author of Medical Herbalism. "The usnic acid
Usnic acid is a naturally occurring dibenzofuran derivative found in several lichen species with the formula C18H16O7. It was first isolated by German scientist W. Knop in 1844 and first synthesized between 1933-1937 by Curd and Robertson. Usnic a ...
in ''Usnea'' is effective against gram positive bacteria such as ''Streptococcus
''Streptococcus'' is a genus of gram-positive ' (plural ) or spherical bacteria that belongs to the family Streptococcaceae, within the order Lactobacillales (lactic acid bacteria), in the phylum Bacillota. Cell division in streptococci occurs ...
'' and ''Staphylococcus
''Staphylococcus'' is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria in the family Staphylococcaceae from the order Bacillales. Under the microscope, they appear spherical (cocci), and form in grape-like clusters. ''Staphylococcus'' species are facultative ...
'', making ''Usnea'' a valuable addition to herbal formulas for sore throats and skin infections. It is also effective against a bacterium that commonly causes pneumonia"
There is reason to believe that ''Usnea'', in high concentrations, could possess some toxicity. The National Toxicology Program is currently evaluating the issue.
Dyes
''Usnea'' species have been used to create orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple dyes for textiles.
Cosmetics
''Usnea barbata'' has been used in cosmetic production for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties as a preservative and deodorant
A deodorant is a substance applied to the body to prevent or mask body odor due to bacterial breakdown of perspiration or vaginal secretions, for example in the armpits, groin, or feet. A subclass of deodorants, called antiperspirants, prevents s ...
.
Combustible
''Usnea barbata'' when dry is extremely flammable and is often used as a firestarter.
Species
*'' Usnea acromelana''
*'' Usnea alboverrucata''
*''Usnea amblyoclada
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea angulata''
*'' Usnea antarctica''
*'' Usnea aranea''
*''Usnea articulata
''Usnea articulata'', commonly known as the string-of-sausage lichen, is a pale greenish-grey, densely branched lichen
A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fung ...
''
*'' Usnea aurantiaciparvula''
*'' Usnea austrocampestris'' – Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...
*''Usnea bismolliuscula
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*''Usnea boomiana
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*''Usnea brattiae
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*''Usnea cavernosa
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea cedrosiana''
*'' Usnea ceratina''
*'' Usnea chaetophora''
*'' Usnea cirrosa''
*'' Usnea clerciana''
*''Usnea confusa
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea cornuta''
*'' Usnea crenulata''
*''Usnea crocata
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*''Usnea cylindrica
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea diplotypus''
*''Usnea effusa
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea elata''
*''Usnea elixii
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea esperantiana''
*'' Usnea exigua''
*'' Usnea filipendula''
*''Usnea firmula
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea flammea''
*'' Usnea flavocardia''
*''Usnea flavorubescens
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*''Usnea fleigiae
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*''Usnea florida
''Usnea florida'' is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work '' Species Plantarum''. German botanist Friedrich Heinrich Wiggers transferred it to the genus ''Usnea'' in 1780. ...
''
*'' Usnea floriformis''
*'' Usnea foveata''
*'' Usnea fragilescens''
*''Usnea fulvoreagens
''Usnea fulvoreagens'' is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was first described by Finnish lichenologist Veli Räsänen in 1931 as a variety of '' Usnea glabrescens''. He raised it to distinct species status in 1935. The li ...
''
*''Usnea galapagona
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea geissleriana''
*''Usnea glabrata
''Usnea glabrata'' is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was first described as a variety of '' Usnea plicata'' by Erik Acharius. Finnish lichenologist Edvard August Vainio transferred it to the genus ''Usnea'' in 1915. Th ...
''
*''Usnea glabrescens
''Usnea glabrescens'' is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It grows on bark, has a shrubby thallus with a blackened base, and a thick cortex. Several chemotype A chemotype (sometimes chemovar) is a chemically distinct entity ...
''
*''Usnea glauca
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in th ...
''
*'' Usnea grandisora''
*'' Usnea grandispora''
*'' Usnea himantodes''
*''Usnea hirta
''Usnea hirta'' is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was one of 80 lichen species first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work '' Species Plantarum''. Friedrich Heinrich Wiggers transferred it to the genus ' ...
''
*''Usnea inermis
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea intermedia''
*'' Usnea kalbiana''
*'' Usnea krogiana''
*''Usnea lambii
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea lapponica''
*''Usnea leana
''Usnea leana'' is a species of fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. Found in the Galápagos Islands, it characterized by its pendulous thallus, branches covered with point-like pseudocyphellae, and the presence of galbinic acid. This ...
''
*''Usnea lutii
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea macaronesica''
*'' Usnea maculata''
*'' Usnea marivelensis''
*'' Usnea mayrhoferi''
*'' Usnea mekista''
*'' Usnea messutiae''
*'' Usnea molliuscula''
*''Usnea myrmaiacaina
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea neuropogonoides''
*'' Usnea nidifica''
*'' Usnea nidulifera''
*''Usnea oncodeoides
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea oncodes''
*''Usnea oreophila
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea pacificana''
*'' Usnea pallidocarpa''
*'' Usnea parafloridana''
*''Usnea patriciana
''Usnea patriciana'' is a rare species of fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. This beard lichen has a shrubby appearance with cylindrical branches and distinct black pigmentation at its base.
...
''
*''Usnea pendulina
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea perplexans''
*'' Usnea poliothrix''
*'' Usnea praetervisa''
*'' Usnea propagulifera''
*''Usnea pulvinata
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea pycnoclada''
*'' Usnea pygmoidea''
*'' Usnea quasirigida''
*'' Usnea ramulosissima''
*'' Usnea roseola''
*''Usnea rubicunda
''Usnea rubicunda'', commonly known as the red beard lichen, is a type of arboreal lichen native to temperate regions in North, Central and South America, as well as Europe, Eastern Asia, and North Africa. This fruticose species forms hair-like ...
''
*''Usnea rubricornuta
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*''Usnea rubriglabrata
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*''Usnea rubrotincta
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea sanguinea''
*''Usnea saxidilatata
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea scabrata''
*''Usnea scabrida
''Usnea scabrida'' is a foliose lichen that grows from holdfasts on trees. It occurs in southwest Western Australia. It is a very pale grayish-yellowish green, slender, pendant, branching from the base, unequally branching, and shrubby. The cor ...
''
*'' Usnea silesiaca''
*'' Usnea subalpina''
*'' Usnea subaranea''
*''Usnea subcapillaris
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea subcomplecta''
*'' Usnea subcornuta''
*''Usnea subdasaea
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea subeciliata''
*''Usnea subflammea
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea subflaveola''
*'' Usnea subfloridana''
*'' Usnea subglabrata''
*''Usnea subparvula
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*''Usnea subrubicunda
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the f ...
''
*'' Usnea subscabrosa''
*''Usnea tamborensis
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichen, fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels Holdfast (biology), anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale Universit ...
''
*'' Usnea taylorii''
*''Usnea torulosa
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini- shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, The genus is in the ...
''
*'' Usnea trachycarpa''
*''Usnea ushuaiensis
''Usnea'' is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichen, fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels Holdfast (biology), anchored on bark or twigs.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale Universit ...
''
*'' Usnea viktoriana''
*'' Usnea vrieseana''
*'' Usnea wasmuthii''
*'' Usnea xanthopoga''
References
Sources
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q121799
Parmeliaceae
Lichen genera
Lecanorales genera
Taxa described in 1763
Taxa named by Michel Adanson