Biology:Usnea longissima
| Methuselah's beard lichen | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Usnea |
| Species: | U. longissima
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| Binomial name | |
| Usnea longissima Ach.
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Usnea longissima, old man's beard or Methuselah's beard lichen, is a lichen in the family Parmeliaceae.
Name
Usnea longissima has also been named Dolichousnea longissima,[1] but this is not the currently accepted name for this lichen.[2]
Distribution
Usnea longissima is found in boreal forests and coastal woodland in Europe, Asia, and North America.[3]
Description
This lichen is fruticose, with very long stems and short, even side branches. It is considered the longest lichen in the world.[4] The stems are usually 15 to 30 cm in length but are sometimes much longer.[5]
Ecology
The most frequent host of this lichen is spruce trees. It is currently on threatened status.[citation needed]
It grows on old trees, deciduous or coniferous, including on this nearly 100 year old pear in the Dosewallips river delta of western Washington [picture needed].
References
- ↑ Articus, K. (2004) Neuropogon and the phylogeny of Usnea s.l. (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes). Taxon 53(4): 925-934.
- ↑ Esslinger, TL. (2018) A Cumulative Checklist for the Lichen-Forming, Lichenicolous and Allied Fungi of the Continental United States and Canada, Version 22. Opuscula Philolichenum 17: 6-268. http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/op/biblio_details.php?irn=480859
- ↑ "Fact Sheet: Usnea longissima in Norway." Nov 08, 1996.http://www.toyen.uio.no/botanisk/bot-mus/lav/factshts/usnelong.htm (accessed Dec 19, 2008).
- ↑ Sharnoff, S.. "'Usnea longissima..'." http://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html (accessed Dec 19, 2008).
- ↑ Walewski, Joe (2007). Lichens of the North Woods. Duluth, MN: Kollath-Stensaas. ISBN 0-9792006-0-1.
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