Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Usnea
Species: U. florida
Binominal name: Usnea florida
Common name: Old man's beard, Beard lichen
Usnea florida is a common lichen seen hanging from branches or lying on the ground where it has fallen off branches. It is a pale greyish-green fruticose lichen that grows like leafless mini-shrubs anchored on bark or twigs. Unlike other similar-looking fruticose lichens, these species have an elastic cord or axis running through the middle of the thallus making the branches flexible. Other similar species like those in the genus Alectoria whose branches will snap off.
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