Sausage Beard-lichen Usnea articulata Gathering records of a spectacular species

Sausage Beard-lichen Usnea articulata is one of Wales’ most spectacular lichens. It can grow more than 1 metre long and is often 30-40cm in length.

Its messy, beard-like appearance, hanging tufts that flap in the wind (photos below left & below right), and tendency to get snagged at both ends make it distinctive at a distance. Unlike most Usnea it is easily recognised because of its unique ‘string of sausages’ appearance: the swollen ‘stems’ have narrow pinch-points and look sausage-like (photo right).

Industrial pollution caused a decline, so by 2000 it was known from fewer than 15 sites in coastal Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan. It was added to the Section 42 list of species of conservation concern.

Now it seems to be spreading again, and more than 30 new sites have been found in south Wales since 2005. There are three main habitats: hawthorns in windy places; the leeward side of windy larch plantations; and willow tops in wetlands. Other records come from oak and rowans. The windiness is a common factor.

We need to know where Sausage Beard-lichen grows now, to work out how rapidly it is increasing. The current distribution is shown left (red dots=post-2000; yellow dots=pre-2000; yellow squares=extinct).

Please record: How much; what host tree; where (including a 6- or 8-figure Grid Reference); date.

Please take one or two photographs too, including one showing the ‘sausages’ to confirm identification.

Please send records to: Sam Bosanquet, sam.bosanquet@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk