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Usnea fragilescens var. fragilescens
Nomenclature
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Genus: UsneaSpecies: Usnea fragilescens
SUMMARY
Thallus subpendant, 3-6 cm long, seldom shrubby, sparsely branched, branching anisotomic-dichotomous (i.e. with side branches distinctly narrower than the main axis). Trunk typically long (2-5 mm), narrower at the base, always jet black in the basal 1-2 mm, annular cracks sparse and narrow. Major branches round in section, very long and distinct, much thicker than the other branches, typically fusiform, sparsely branched, the axils at a 90° angle. Secondary branches distinctly constricted at the base, mostly fusiform, much thinner than the primary branches, sparsely branched. Terminal branches sparsely branched, slender, long, ± filamentous, with few fibrils, axils at 60°-90° angles. Papillae usually numerous on the major branches where they are ± evenly and densely distributed, as low hemispherical lumps broader than tall, ± flattened near the base and sometimes difficult to see. Fibrils rather long (3-5 mm), slender, unevenly distributed, sparse to absent. Soralia plane to slightly concave, large when mature (190-300 (- 600) µm diam.), not confluent, typically rounded, usually with a sharply delimited margin and a distinct cortical rim, sparse. Isidiomorphs rarely present in mature soralia. Cortex shiny like broken glass, usually thin. Medulla thick, loose, axis thin.
Anamorph: not known.
Teleomorph: ascomata (apothecia) not known.
Chemistry: K- or K+ faint yellowish, Pd- or Pd+ light orangish yellow near the central axis.