Phil Bendle Collection:Usnea lichens (Beard lichens)

Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Usnea
Common name: Beard lichens

Usnea is a genus of mostly pale greyish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs and fence posts. The genus is in the family Parmeliaceae. It grows all over the world. Usnea branches have a circular cross-section and are pendulous. Like other lichens, it is a symbiosis of a fungus and algae.

This species of Usnea was on a wind-fallen branch roadside Mt Egmont/Taranaki
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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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