Description: This shrubby ‘beard’ lichen has a small thallus (to 3cm tall) with branches smooth and shiny and slightly swollen and articulated as in U. cornuta. The disintegrating branch tips resemble U. esperantiana but that species has papillate branches (pimpled) and is K+ yellow-red and not K- as in U. glabrescens. It is easily overlooked, even by the experts, but will colonise a wide range of habitats including coastal shrubs and tarmac. In Ireland, the species has been recorded from Counties Galway and Wicklow.

Key Identification Features:

• Tiny ‘beard’ lichen with smooth, shiny, slightly swollen non-papillate branches
• It is K-, Pd+ rust red.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

Distribution Map from NBN: Usnea glabrata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Usnea glabrata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.