Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg.
Primit. Florae Holsat., 2: 7, 1780. Basionym: Lichen floridus L. - Sp. Pl., 2: 1156, 1753.
Synonyms: Usnea barbata var. florida (L.) Fr.; Usnea florida subsp. arbuscula Motyka; Usnea florida subsp. pseudostrigosa Motyka; Usnea tominii Räsänen
Description: Thallus fruticose-filamentous, greenish, shrubby to subpendulous, 2-10 cm long, branching both isotomic- and anisotomic-dichotomously, the basal part usually not distinctly constricted, blackened on 2-5 mm, often with distinct annulations. Branches progressively tapering towards the tips; lateral branches not constricted at attachment point, main branches with numerous and conspicuous white rings, papillae and tubercles. Fibrils slender, 1-6 mm long, mostly arising at right angles from branches and becoming curved. Cortex thick, (7-)9-13(-17) % of total branch thickness, matt in longitudinal section; medulla white, thin (11-20 %) dense to compact; central axis white, moderately thick (38-54 %); ratio axis/medulla ranging between 0.8 and 6. Apothecia common, numerous on terminal and lateral branches, zeorine, up to 2 cm across, the margins with numerous, radiating marginal fibrils; the disc P+ yellow, the margin P+ red. Asci 8-spored, elongate-clavate, Lecanora-type. Ascospores simple, hyaline, ellipsoid, 8.5-11 x 5.5-7 µm. Photobiont chlorococcoid. Spot tests and chemistry: cortex K-, C-, KC-, P-, with usnic acid; medulla with 2 chemotypes in Europe: 1) K+ bright yellow slowly turning orange, KC- or KC+ pink, P+ orange, with thamnolic acid (major) ± alectorialic and bourgeanic acids, apothecial disc K+ yellow, KC+ red, P+ yellow; 2) K-, KC- or KC+ pink, P-, with squamatic acid (major), ± alectorialic, ± bourgeanic acids, apothecial disc K-, P-. Chemotype 1) is the most frequent.
Growth form: Fruticose filamentous
Substrata: bark
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: common
Montane belt: rather common
Dry submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Humid submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
1 2 3 4 5
Solar irradiation:
1 2 3 4 5
Aridity:
1 2 3 4 5
Eutrophication:
1 2 3 4 5
Poleotolerance:
0 1 2 3
Altitudinal distribution:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
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Occurrence data
Predictive map
Current prediction (1981-2010)
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025
Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

P.L. Nimis; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Herbarium: TSB (10874)
2001/12/12

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Andrea Moro; Owner: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste
Italia, Veneto, BL, Comune di Sappada, pendici boscose del Monte Peralba.
2008.27.08

Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

Tiiu Tõrra; Owner: Tiiu Tõrra - Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia

Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_U/Usnea_florida.htm
France, session AFL 2015 dans le Lot

Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_U/Usnea_florida.htm
France, session AFL 2015 dans le Lot

Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_U/Usnea_florida.htm
France, session AFL 2015 dans le Lot

Courtesy Danièle et Olivier Gonnet - Source: https://www.afl-lichenologie.fr/Photos_AFL/Photos_AFL_U/Usnea_florida.htm
France, session AFL 2015 dans le Lot

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
Spain, Landevennec

Bernard Bouffinier - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France, Landevennec

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France, Drôme provençale

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France, Drôme provençale

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France

Jacques Haine - Source: http://www.lichensmaritimes.org/index.php?task=fiche&lichen=357&lang=en
France

Collezione lichenologica Abramo Massalongo del Museo di Storia Naturale G. Ligabue di Venezia - Autori: Seggi, Linda; Trabucco, Raffaella Proprietà: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - CC BY-NC
Italy, Veneto, in nem. Cansiglio 1855

Collezione lichenologica Abramo Massalongo del Museo di Storia Naturale G. Ligabue di Venezia - Autori: Seggi, Linda; Trabucco, Raffaella Proprietà: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - CC BY-NC
Italy, Veneto, in nem. Cansiglio 1855

Collezione lichenologica Abramo Massalongo del Museo di Storia Naturale G. Ligabue di Venezia - Autori: Seggi, Linda; Trabucco, Raffaella Proprietà: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - CC BY-NC
Italy, Veneto, in nem. Cansiglio 1855

Collezione lichenologica Abramo Massalongo del Museo di Storia Naturale G. Ligabue di Venezia - Autori: Seggi, Linda; Trabucco, Raffaella Proprietà: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia - CC BY-NC
Italy, Veneto, in nem. Cansiglio 1855
Growth form: Fruticose filamentous
Substrata: bark
Photobiont: green algae other than Trentepohlia
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
Commonnes-rarity: (info)
Alpine belt: absent
Subalpine belt: common
Montane belt: rather common
Dry submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Humid submediterranean belt: extremely rare
Padanian area: absent
pH of the substrata:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Solar irradiation:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Aridity:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Eutrophication:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Poleotolerance:
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Altitudinal distribution:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Rarity
absent
extremely rare
very rare
rare
rather rare
rather common
common
very common
extremely common
Loading data...
Occurrence data
Predictive map
Current prediction (1981-2010)
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 1-2.6
Future prediction (2071-2100) SSP 5-8.5Predictive maps according to Francesconi et al. 2025

