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Speaking of dead larches - I have several very recently dead ones in my back garden - Does anyone know what might be killing them? Mary ----Original Message Follows---- From: Bob McDonald <bobathome@hfx.eastlink.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Fuzzy "stuff" on trees, ID? Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:56:22 -0300 Hello Peter, Your "fuzzy stuff" growing on the trees are lichens. This is clearly an Usnea species (a so-called Beard Lichen) but there are several of these in NS. It looks most like Usnea longissima (Methusaleh's Beard Lichen) which can be up to 3 m long!! BTW, lichens do not harm the tree and use it simply as a substrate, i.e. a place to grow. 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. In fact, the Usnea lichens in particular are very intolerant of pollution and are hard to find, say, on the Halifax peninsula. 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. Yours is a very healthy population and clearly the air quality is very high!! Cheers, Bob McDonald Clayton Park West Halifax ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter dewit To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:09 PM Subject: [NatureNS] Fuzzy "stuff" on trees, ID? Noticed the "fuzz" growing on the trees at Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve, Headlands Trail when hiking on Saturday (sept 9th) I'm not familiar with what it is. 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. Above that area the trees looked normal. 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. It was very dry to touch, probably makes a good fire starter when in neeed. Some photos included here: http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove18.JPG http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove19.JPG ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006
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