Beard Lichen (Usnea spp.)

Posted on March 9, 2013 by technotink

.

020113-007Beard lichen, Congaree National Park, Columbia, SC


Name: Beard Lichen

Common Names:
Beard, Beard Lichen, Usnea, Old Man’s Beard, Beard Lichen, Tree’s Dandruff, Woman’s Long Hair, or Tree Moss. Ipts-aak (a.k.a. “limb moss”), Suts’wakt (Bella Coola in British Columbia), P’u7up (Nitinaht in British Columbia), Chharila (India), Jaegel (Northern Scandinavia).

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi. Phylum: Ascomycota. Class: Lecanoromycetes. Order: Lecanorales. Family: Parmeliaceae. Genus: Usnea . species: spp.

Localities: Lichens can be found world-wide, from arctic tundra climates, rocky coasts, hot deserts, marshes, fields, and forests. This particular Genus can be found throughout mountainous and woodland areas.  There are numerous species found  as with other lichens, growing on dead or dying trees, fallen wood, and other decaying matter. It is not the cause of the tree’s illness or death. Usnea barbata does not occur in North America. Documentation listing barbata in North America is usually a mis-identification to Usnea xanthopoga, Usnea scabrata, and/or Usnea filipendula.

Description:  

Beard Lichen is a member of the Usnea genus and Parmeliaceae family, and is described as a greenish to yellow ranging colored fruticose (branched, busy, tangled) Lichens that is a mass of long stems and disk-shaped holdfasts that in some eyes resembles a tangled mass of threads, shrub-like growth, or a scruffy beard (i.e. its namesake). Sometimes described as resembling green or grey hair growing from tree branches. Various people, such as the Nitinaht classify the species differently based on the type of tree they are growing on. Most scientists do not differentiate the species based on a tree host, but rather description, color, and growth habitat. There are several species to this Genus based on composition, description, color, and mass. Several these are as follows:

  • Usnea barbata or Old Man’s Beard does not occur in North America. Documentation listing barbata in North America is usually a mis-identification to Usnea xanthopoga, Usnea scabrata, and/or Usnea filipendula.
  • Usnea californica / ceratina or “Warty beard lichen”, Kôchih (by the Pomo of California).
  • Usnea dasypoga / filipendula or Yerba de la Piedra (Stone Grass) is not found in North America but common in Uruguay.
  • Usnea densirostra used in Uruguay.
  • Usnea diffracta or Lao-tzu’s beard, Pine gauze, or Female gauze is not found in North America, but common in China, Korea, and Japan.
  • Usnea filipendula or (Fishbone beard lichen)” is often misidentified in North America as Usnea plicata.
  • Usnea florida is commonly used in Sweden, Northern Europe, and Northern Russia.
  • Usnea hieronymi used in Uruguay.
  • Usnea hirta or the “Bristly beard lichen”. sometimes confused with Usnea variolosa.
  • Usnea lacunosa is not found in North America, though referred to in literature as being used as a fiber by the Yuki, Pomo, and Yokia of California. Some write that it was referred to as “moss” by the First People’s and used as bedding.
  • Usnea longissima or Hanging Moss, “Methuselah’s beard lichen”, Syara (India), and P’u7up (British Columbia).
    Grows upwards of 5 feet (1.5 meters) with lengths of grey-like threads hanging from the tree or shrub branches in humid or mountainous regions. This particular species gets confused with the non-lichen plant known as Spanish Moss.

  • Usnea plicata is not found in North America, but literally referring to is is probably a mis-identification for Usnea filipendula.
  • Usnea scabrata is often confused with Usnea barbata references in North America which was probably this species.
  • Usnea thallus
    Means “Cream on the inside”, often used in indigenous medicine and magic.
Usnea grows only to a few millimeters in areas that are polluted, and upwards of 10-20 cm long where the air is clean. Lichens are a type of fungus that grows symbiotically with its host plant – usually trees, shrubs, and/or dead wood. Lichens consist of an alga and a fungus living together in a symbiotic association. It relies of its photosynthetic partner (photobiont) to live. This makes it a composite organism. A lichen consists of an upper part of interwoven fibres related to the fungus and a layer of more loosely fibrous structures related to the fungus that surrounds the algae. The algae can carry out photosynthesis and feed the fungi. The fibrous structures that make up the fungi adds support to the algae and keeps the algae from drying out.The photobiont is usually a cyanobacterium or a green algae. They are named after their fungal counterparts. Lichens are quite different however from those of isolated fungus and algae in culture. They are long living but vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Many lichens are known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution, and they have been used as ‘indicators’ of pollution. As they are pokilohydric, they are capable of surviving extremely low levels of water content. Its body is called the thallus and differs from the fungal or algae host growing separately. Fungus surrounds the algal cells often enclosing them within complex fungal tissues unique to lichen associations, often penetrating the algal cell wall and forming penetration haustoria or pegs similar to that of the pathogenic fungi. The cyanobacterial cells or algal are photosynthetic reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars that feed both of the symbionts giving both partners water and mineral nutrients via atmospheric rain and dust. Bluegreen algae occur as symbionts in about 8% of known lichens. 90% of known lichens have a green algae as a symbiont with Trebouxia as the most comon genus occuring in about 40% of all lichens. The 2nd most common is Trentepohlia. Some lichens have the aspect of leaves, such as in the foliose lichens, while others cover the substrate like a crust, and others adopt shrubby forms or a gelatinous texture. The form varies based on the genetic material of its fungal partner, association with a photobiont to develop it. Lichens reproduce asexually via vegetative reproduction or by dispersal of diaspores containing algal and fungal cells. Many lichen fungi reproduce sexually in like fashion that is typical of fungi by producing spores that are the result of sexual fusion and meiosis. Once merged with a compatible algal host, it can form into a functional lichen.



Cultivation:
Beard Lichen reproduces by fragmentation, asexually through soredia, and sexually through ascogonium and spermatogonium with a very slow growth rate.

Common Uses:

Often collected as fodder. Some species are used to create an orange dye. Other species also used to create other dye coloring such as greens, blues, purples, and oranges that are used for textiles. Used as a Dye in North America, British Columbia’s indigenous, and Europeans. A dark blue dye for traditional textiles is made by Peruvian peoples of the thalli of the Usnea barbata while the same species was used by Europeans to create a orange-red dye to stain wools and by the Dakota to create a yellow dye. Since barbata is not found in North America, this was propbably scabrata. Both of these were used to create the toiled Cyprus Powder. Usnea hirta used by the Navajo in New Mexico to make a flesh colored Dyes. Usnea plicata is used as a green or yellow woolen Dye in Europe. It is used by scientists to gauge pollution, since the Usnea genus is very sensitive to the environment, and absorbs air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide. It has been used to treat fish infections in aquariums and ponds. Usnea barbata is also used in creating cosmetics because of its antimicrobial and antifungal properties as a preservative and deodorant. Usnea barbata is used as a source for Dye by the peoples of Peru and Europe. Usnea spp. used as fiber by many of the British Columbia’s First Nation peoples such as the Salish, Sechelt, Secwepemc, Nuxalk, Bella Coola, Nitinaht, Haida, Gwich’in, and Stl’atl’imx. The Scandinavians used it as animal forage and fodder. Used by the Haida for bedding when camping and also when mixed with Alextoria sarmentosa to strain hot pitch for removing impurities before it was used as a medicine. Sechelt used them for baby diapers and to make a fire smoke. The Bella Coola, Nuxalk, and Secwepemc use Usnea spp. to make false whiskers and artificial hair when decorating their dance masks and creating costumes for children. The First Nation’s of British Columbia mixed it with Alectoria sarmentosa to wipe the slime off fish as they believed washing them would affect the taste of the fish, and to protect food in earthen pits. Some peoples and other Interior Salish would weave clothing out of it for ponchos and foot wear, sometimes interwoven with silverberry bark and other stronger fiber. Usnea californica / ceratina used as a source for fiber by the Pomo tribe in California to create diapers for babies and “toilet chips”. Usnea florida is commonly used in Sweden, Northern Europe, and Northern Russia to create alcohol (brandy) or make dyes (green-yellow or red-brown). Usnea longissima was used for fiber by North Americans and the Bhotia and Garhwali of India. Also used as decoration by Europeans. Often used by North American indigenous to create feminine hygiene products, bedding, diapers, and to strain medicines. In India, was used to stuff cushions and pillows until it became believed to have caused asthma. Most likely the first Christmas tree tinsel in Northern Europe. Usnea scabrata was used to create a yellow dye for porcupine quills by the Dakota peoples.

Culinary:

There are no records of it being used as food by humans. It is however, often eaten by wild animals. The Tarahumara in Northern Mexico use it to create Alcohol such as with Usnea as a catalyst for making fermented corn beverages. Other Lichens are often eaten by some animals, including reindeer in arctic regions and the Northern Flying Squirrel. Lepidoptera larvae will also feed exclusively on lichens. Lichens are very low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Some species and types are eaten by humans in various cultures around the world, especially in times of famine, though considered a delicacy by others. Lichen polysaccharides are generally indigestible to humans and some contain a mildly toxi secondary compound that needs to be removed before eating. Very few are poisonous, but those high in vulpinic acid or usnic acid are toxic. These toxic lichen are usually yellow in color.

Medicinal:

Usnic acid is found in large quantities in Usnea spp., as well as in several other lichen genera. It is a fairly wide spectrum antibiotic and is the most active antibiotic to be characterized from lichens (Abo-Khatwa et al. 1996; Shibamoto and Wei 1984; Rowe et al. 1991; Dobrescu et al. 1993). Usnic acid and diffractaic acid (a derivative of usnic acid) have both been demonstrated to be analgesic when tested on mice (Okuyama et al. 1995). And a mixture of usnic acid and isolichenin has been demonstrated to have moderate activity against sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich tumor cells (Periera et al. 1994).All of the species are used medicinally, with evidence dating as far back as 1,600 years ago. Used medicinally for a host of purposes by the indigenous and First Nation’s of North and South America, as well as by peoples in Asia, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. The Chinese use it in contemporary homeopathic medicine. High in vitamin C and saturated with Usnic acid makes Usnea a very special lichen. This is because Usnic acid is a potent antibiotic and antifungal agent found in all of the species. This agent combined with the hair-like structure of the lichen means that it was often used to treat surface wounds when sterile gauze and modern antibiotics were unavailable, both externally, topically, and internally. Scientists though caution there is a potential hepatoxicity issue that it should only be used externally. It is also used as an antibiotic for gram-positive bacteria and as an anti-fungal against Candida albicans. In Germany, it has been approved for mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa since 1989. Was used to create the product Lipokinetix that was used to induce weight loss via an increase in the metabolic rate, but became a topic of FDA warnings in the United States due to its potential hepatoxicity. The species Usnea thallus (means “cream in the inside”) was used as bandages by many different peoples around the globe. As it has a high concentration of usnic acid which is the strongest antiobiotic found in lichens. It was used as a remedy for whooping cough, epilepsy, dropsy, and catarrh. As a tonic, was used as a diuretic and astringent. Usnea barbata is utilized medicinally primarily by the peoples of Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, Spain, Malay Peninsula. Usnea barbata is strongly used as a antibiotic especially in lung and upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and was used to stimulate hair growth as early as 300 B.C.E. Prescribed for uterine ailments by Hypocrites as early as 400 B.C.E., as a hair strengthener in the 15th century Europe, a secant and antiseptic in Spain, and the natives of the Malay Peninsula used it for colds and strenthening after confinement.

Medicinally there are reports of Usnea being used for medicine in North America, China, New Zealand, Spain, Africa, Thailand, India, and Italy. In Spain, Usnea spp. is used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments. It was also used as an ingredient in a herbal tea given by African guides to relieve altitude sickness on Mt. Killimonjaro, Africa. Used by the Karen of Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mail Province of Thailand to make post-delivery bath for women to aid parturition and prevention of infection. In India, it is used to create the drug Chharila. Shepherds in Italy would put Usnea spp. in their shoes to prevent and treat blistering. The Bella Coola in British Columbia used it to poultice sores and boils if found growing on alder trees. Some tribes used it to dress wounds, diaper babies, creating sanitary napkins, and for wiping salmon. Used in contemporary western medicine for homeopathics, for antibiotic salves, anti-fungal remedy, deodorants, as well as herbal tinctures. Usnea dasypoga / filipendula is used medicinally by the people of Uruguay. Usnea diffracta is used medicinally by Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese as early as 500 C.E., picked in the 5th lunar month, dried in the shade, and used to stop dizziness, sweating, cold, pain, and/or phlegm. Also used to treat urinary tract infections and to stop swelling in female genitalia. A drink or decoction of it is consumed to treat pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis. Usnea filipendula used medicinally by the people of Java and Russia as a powder to treat wounds. Usnea longissima was used medicinally by First Nations in British Columbia, and peoples of India, China, and Europe. The Nitinaht used it to to dress wounds by wrapping the lichen around the wound and left to absorb the bleeding. The Baiga of Madhya Pradesh (India) mixed the lichen with some other ingredients to treat bone fractures. Chinese herbalists prescribed it to be taken orally as an expectorant and applied topically as a powder to treat surface infections or external ulcers, and in modern society as a expectorant tincture and to treat tuberculosis lymphedenitis (since it contains various b-orcinol depsides including evernic, barbatic, or diffractaic acids). Usnea plicata is used medicinally by Europeans as a remedy for whooping-cough.

Cultural/Mythical/Fantasy:
Written about in Shakespeare’s “Idle moss”, referring to as the “beard moss” or “tree moss”, it was used as an inspiration in many pieces of poetry. According to the Nitinaht people, since this species looks like green or grey hair hanging from tree branches, lends an examply to their mythos. In China Usnea diffracta has been called “Lao Tzu’s beard” and has been described as a medicine in Chinese herbals as early as 500 C.E. According to Menomini legend, lichens are said to be scabs from the head of Må’nåpus. Må’nåpus placed the scabs where they are to keep his uncles and aunts from starving. Another version of this legend is that the lichens were scabs from when Må’nåpus burned his buttocks, and they came off as he slid down a slanting rock. The Northern Paiute of Nevada called the orange and yellow crustose lichens on rocks “Lizard semen” which probably comes from the little pushups that western fence lizards do on rocks. Another In China Usnea diffracta has been called “Lao Tzu’s beard” and has been described as a medicine in Chinese herbals as early as 500 C.E.

Research/Article by:
Thomas Baurley, Leafworks Research, www.leafworks.net.
[Official page: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=673]. March 3, 2013.
This page is continually being updated as research and facts are revealed.
Please check back often if this is a special interest to you.

Bibliography/ Recommended Reading/ Resources:

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
This entry was posted in Ethnobotany, Flora, lichens and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.