Usnea vainioi
| Usnea vainioi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Parmeliaceae |
| Genus: | Usnea |
| Species: | U. vainioi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Usnea vainioi Motyka (1936)
| |
Usnea vainioi is a rare species of
beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae found in the southeastern United States. It was described as a new species in 1936 by Polish lichenologist Józef Motyka.[1] The specific epithet honours Finnish lichenologist Edvard August Vainio.[2] The lichen contains (in addition to usnic acid) diffractaic acid as the main secondary compound.[3]
Usnea vainioi grows in clusters or tufts, sometimes hanging from its substrate by a single holdfast, and is up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long. Its lateral branches are up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long, although they more typically are in the range 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2.0 in). The cortex is green, while the medulla, which has a central cavity, is more variable in color – typically red and white with tinges of yellow.[4]
Because the
lectotype of the species by Roderick Rogers and G. Nell Stevens in a 1988 publication.[3]