Synonym: Usnea rubiginosa.
Common name: Red Beard Lichen.
Extract from Wikipedia article: 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 hanging clusters that are orange to red in color. It is at risk of extirpation in Canada.
Russian: Уснея красноватая.
Usnea rubicunda is a species of fruticose lichen that grows as pendant or hanging thalli, typically 5-15 cm long, with a reddish-brown to orange-brown color. In East and Central Texas, it is commonly found on trees, particularly oak and elm, in shaded areas with high humidity. It thrives in the region's subtropical climate, often growing in association with other lichen species, such as Usnea strigosa and Evernia prunastri. The thalli are branched and shrub-like, with a cortex covering a white medulla, and contain usnic acid, which gives the lichen its distinctive color and contributes to its ecological role in the region's forests.
Beard lichen Usnea rubicunda(?) fallen from an oak or a pine on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, November 16, 2019
Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Red beard lichen (Usnea rubicunda) fallen from a tree after a recent windy day on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 12, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Hair-like cluster of red beard lichen (Usnea rubicunda) fallen from a tree after a recent windy day on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 12, 2020Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USAObservations of Usnea rubicunda in East and Central Texas reveal that the species can be found on various tree types, including oak and pine. On Caney Creek Trail in Sam Houston National Forest, specimens were observed to have fallen from trees, with instances recorded on November 16, 2019, and January 12, 2020. The latter observation was attributed to a recent windy day, suggesting that wind may play a role in the dispersal of this lichen species. The fallen lichens formed hair-like clusters, characteristic of Usnea rubicunda. These observations were made in the same location, indicating that the species is present and potentially abundant in this area of Texas. The ability to grow on different tree types and withstand wind dispersal may contribute to its presence in the region.
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