It's actually called "Usnea," though it is often mistaken for Spanish Moss. It's formed by the symbiosis of a fungus and an alga.
It is commonly called Old Man's Beard, Beard Lichen or Tree Moss.
All overgrown by cunning moss,All interspersed with weeds,
The mighty oak trees of Oak Lane Watch over all their steeds.
Recent rain and winds knocked down a large piece of the hanging lichen, so I picked it up and took it home to get some close-ups of it, it was so unusual looking.
It felt soft, spongy and rubbery. I was amazed at the intricacy and laciness of it.
Nature's beautiful soft, green lace.Join the fun and see natural and man-made beauty all around the world at My World Tuesday.
13 comments:
Beautiful. I love how extravagent nature can be :)
Wow,that stuff looks really different up close.It almost looks like a net of some sort.Very interesting.
Blessings,Ruth
You're right I would have associated that with a swamp area! It really is beautiful and lace like, although just a touch creepy too.
All that moss is certainly very photogenic, but is it healthy for the trees?
I'd be afraid to take it home, but it does make for really interesting photos - lovely.
Wolynski: No, the usnea (lichen) does not damage the tree. It has no vascular system; it absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air. I googled "Does usnea kill trees?" and found out that info. Handling it is not harmful--it's like handling any lichen growing on a rock.
wow, amazing! nature's creations are indeed spectacular!
Pat, I've never seen lichen up close! :)
I had not heard of Old Man's Beard before, but it is very interesting. Your closeups are fascinating and it really does look similar to lace.
George: I googled Lace Lichen, and voila! There were photos that looked just like mine. So its real (common) name is "Lace Lichen" and it only grows in the Pacific northwest. Lichen is a symbiotic combination of fungus and algae. Biologists speculate that it developed the holes to survive the strong winds that blow inland from the Pacific.
Wolynski: Some cultures have even used lichen for food, so it's definitely not poisonous, except for wolf lichen.
I saw so much Spanish moss in Florida! It makes for some amazing scenes and photographs...humidity is its best friend!
i think that would be perfect as potting decorations although i am not sure about its texture. thanks for sharing.
That's actually really cool and quite beautiful. But I suppose I wouldn't want it growing on my house -- it isn't THAT beautiful :)
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