LICHALP

Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg.

Syn.: Lichen floridus L., Usnea barbata (L.) F.H. Wigg. var. florida (L.) Fr., Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg. subsp. arbuscula Motyka, Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg. subsp. fagofila Motyka, Usnea florida (L.) F.H. Wigg. subsp. pseudostrigosa Motyka, Usnea tominii Räsänen

Lichenised.

Substrate: bark, lignum

Altitudinal range: from the montane belt (potential vegetation: deciduous forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica and closed coniferous forests with Picea abies) to the subalpine belt (potential vegetation: open, taiga-like forests dominated by Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra and Rhododendron)

Note: a boreal-montane to cool-temperate lichen found in forests with frequent fog, on twigs and branches, with optimum in the upper montane and subalpine belts; often confused with U. intermedia; see also note on U. subfloridana; widespread throughout the Alps, but presently extremely rare and declining.