Usnea Scabrata

Day 178: With the help of Daphne Fisher Stone's marvelous "aide memoire" to Usneas of the Pacific Northwest, I was able to identify Usnea scabrata, a species which has puzzled me since I lived on one of western Washington's prairies. It is one of several Usneas which occur on Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) in the area from Yelm to Tenino, and arguably dominant on those trees just south of Rainier. It is characterized by a pendulant thallus, the individual strands calling to mind U. longissima, but branching and significantly shorter. In cross-section, the medulla (inner flesh) is quite thick compared to the cortex (outer skin), and the axis (central cord) accounts for almost half the width of the section (the ratio, if you are interested, is C8, M17, A49). The branches are uneven and dented, with papillae and isidia present in most cases. Like U. longissima, there are many fibrils shooting off from the main branches, somewhat like a loosely-spun Christmas garland. Very few annual cracks encircle the branches, and these are not conspicuous. No chemical testing should be necessary to identify the species. Of all the lichens in our woods, the Usneas are perhaps the most graceful and elegant, and they are by far one of the most sensitive, taking offense wherever even minor amounts of pollutants are present in their air. It is refreshing, both literally and figuratively, to place yourself in their company.

Lichens And Morris Dancers

Day 152: You'd think it would be pretty hard to make a connection between lichens and Morris dancers in a single post, but here you have it. Sound & Fury observes a winter holiday tradition we call "the Mistletoe Faerie." You probably have something similar in your workplace. Some time before Christmas, names are drawn for a gift exchange, no person to know exactly who their representative from the Mistletoe Fey is until Twelfth Night (or the nearest practice date) when the gifts are delivered. Several factors caused me to miss six weeks of practice, including the critical gift exchange. When I returned this past Monday, my Mistletoe Faerie delivered her gift. I'd forgotten about the plea I'd put out on Facebook for Daphnie Stone's "aide memoire" to the Usneas of the area and was surprised and overjoyed when I unwrapped it. Yesterday, I gave it a field test. I needed a walk and decided to take an overgrown side trail of Nisqually-Mashel State Park, an Usnea-rich area if ever there was one. Field guide in hand, I was able to put a name to a species which has puzzled me in the past. Usnea flavocardia is identified by its fibril, pinched at the base like the tip of a cigar, as well as the presence of little red dots on the thallus. Thank you, Mistletoe Faerie, and thank you, Mistletoe Fey for...well, you know, that other thing.