WANTED (ALIVE)!
Usnea angulata

Ohio has a number of lichens, known only from early collections, that are now thought to be extirpated. Several have already been featured in the (Wanted Alive)! column. Another prime example is Usnea angulata, known from one collection in Champaign County by Biddlecome in 1875.

Photo from the Internet

Usnea angulata is a large, abundantly branched and pendant beard lichen. The specific name refers to the winged and ridged branches. According to Tripp and Lendemer (2020. Field Guide to the Lichens of Great Smoky Mountains National Park) “Usnea angulata is just about as conspicuous and charismatic of a macrolichen as you can possibly get. It forms extensive thalli, often multiple feet, that dangle down from the canopy branches of trees.”

This lichen was probably once widespread in the old-growth eastern US forests, but is now rare and restricted to a few extensively forested areas – Smoky Mountains, Ozark Mountains and north central Minnesota.

Closeup showing winged branches. Photo from the Internet.

Chances of finding it again in Ohio are remote, but who knows – lichens thought to be extirpated and species new for the state are regularly found by OMLA members. So be on the lookout for this fantastic lichen.

-Ray Showman