Usnea filipendula (images of British lichens)

Fruticose, pendulous, pale grey to grey-green, black at base of main stem, main branches rather few, arising close to the base and then hanging vertically, usually with abundant, short, fine side-branches ('fibrils') that project horizontally in a 'fish-bone' pattern, papillate and isidiate especially towards the bases of the main branches; apothecia very rare, or unknown in Britain? Mainly in the north and west, especially on birch (Betula) and conifers in upland woods.

Refs: Nordic Lichen Flora (2011) 4: 116, 168 (photos, printed too dark, as U. dasypoga); James (2003), 19 (line illustrations); Smith et al. (2009), 923; Purvis et al. (1992), 625; Dobson (2005), 443 (photo); Dobson (2011), 449-50 (photo, as U. dasypoga); Jahns (1983), 186-7 (photo); Tõrra & Randlane (2007), 420 (photo), 426; Wirth (1995), 2: 944 (photo); Wirth et al. (2004), 35 (photo); Frahm et al. (2010), 162 (photo); Moberg & Holmåson (1984), 106 (photo); Hinds & Hinds (2007), 495 (photo); Brodo et al. (2001), 718 (photo); McCune & Geiser (2009), 359 & 367 (photos).

Holien & Tønsberg (2008), 69 (photo), previously taken to represent this species, is referred by Clerc, in Nordic Lichen Flora 4 (2011), to the recently described U. cylindrica. The name U. dasypoga is now considered the correct name for this species and replaces the name U. filipendula in recent literature.

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Images of British Lichens