Description: This widespread grey-green ‘beard’ lichen becomes bushy and pendulous with age reaching 8cm or more in length. It is attached by a conspicuous black holdfast from which arise branches that are neither inflated nor annulated (broken by white rings). The branches are pimpled with minute, stump-like warts (papillae), some with clusters of isidia (minute rod-like structures containing fungal hyphae and algae) which when abraded may appear to be soredia (powdery outgrowths). It is a common lichen of well-lit trees, fences and rock outcrops.

Key Identification Features:

• Blackened holdfast
• Isidia, papillae and eroded areas sometimes all present, but branches not swollen, ringed or strongly covered in spiny outgrowths.

Original text submitted by Vince J. Giavarini

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

iNaturalist: Usnea subfloridana at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.