[NatureNS] Fuzzy "stuff" on trees, ID?

Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:51:12 -0300
From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
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Hi Peter, Bob &amp; All,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sept 12, 2006<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An unusually rich stand (hang ?) of <i>Usnea</i> may also be symptomatic
of tree decline; better exposure to light due to a thinning canopy and (my
guess) more leaching of nutrients out of canopy needles down to the lichen.
Ground cover responds in a similar way; no or sparse ground cover becoming
almost continuous as conifers decline.<br>
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville<br>
<br>
&nbsp;<br>
Bob McDonald wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:001501c6d6a5$85961030$6600a8c0@desktop">
  <meta content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name="GENERATOR">
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  <div><font size="2">Hello Peter,</font></div>
  <div>&nbsp;</div>
  <div><font size="2">Your "fuzzy stuff" growing on the trees are lichens.&nbsp;
 This is clearly an Usnea species (a so-called Beard Lichen) but there are
 several of these in NS.&nbsp; It looks most like Usnea longissima (Methusaleh's
 Beard Lichen) which can be up to 3 m long!!</font></div>
  <div>&nbsp;</div>
  <div><font size="2">BTW, lichens do not harm the tree and use it simply
as a  substrate, i.e. a place to grow.&nbsp; There is an increasing number of
people  in the province interested in learning about lichens, especially
since they are  a valuable natural indicator of air quality.&nbsp; In fact, the
Usnea lichens in  particular&nbsp;are very intolerant of pollution and are hard
to find, say, on  the Halifax peninsula.&nbsp; We have a few small Usnea lichens
growing on a dead  Larch in our backyard and as the air quality improves
more, they can get very  large.&nbsp; Yours is a very healthy population and clearly
the air quality is  very high!!</font></div>
  <div>&nbsp;</div>
  <div><font size="2">Cheers,</font></div>
  <div>&nbsp;</div>
  <div><font size="2">Bob McDonald</font></div>
  <div><font size="2">Clayton Park West</font></div>
  <div><font size="2">Halifax</font></div>
  <div>&nbsp;</div>
  <blockquote style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(0,0,0); margin-right: 0px; ">
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From:</b><a title="peterdewit@gmail.com" href="mailto:peterdewit@gmail.com">
Peter    dewit</a>
    </div>
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To:</b><a title="naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">
naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>
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Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:09    PM</div>
    <div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none; "><b>
Subject:</b> [NatureNS] Fuzzy "stuff" on    trees, ID?</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>Noticed the "fuzz" growing on the trees at Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve,
   Headlands Trail when hiking on Saturday (sept 9th)</div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div>I'm not familiar with what it is.&nbsp; They were growing on the base
of    the trees, probably taking over the lower 3-5 feet of branches that
started at    about 6 feet off the ground, almost no leaves on those branches,
and they were    on parts of the trunk.&nbsp;&nbsp; Above that area&nbsp;the trees looked
   normal.&nbsp; I did not think to stop and record the type of tree or    photograph
more of it while I was on a fast walking pace. </div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div>It was very dry to touch, probably makes a good fire starter when
in    neeed.</div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div>Some photos included here:</div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div><a href="http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove18.JPG">
http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove18.JPG</a>
    </div>
    <div><a href="http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove19.JPG">
http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove19.JPG</a>
    </div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <div>&nbsp;</div>
    <hr>No virus found in this incoming message.<br>
Checked by AVG Free    Edition.<br>
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date:    9/11/2006<br>
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