Holdfast area blackened indicating it is either: U.flavocardia, U.fragilescens, U.subfloridana, U.silesiaca or U.wasmuthii.
Medula section is Compact not Lax ruling out U.flavocardia and U.fragilescens
This leaves us with three remaining Usnea's: subfloridana, silesiaca and wasmuthii. These three are difficult to separate in the infertile state. Had it been fertile then subfloridana would have been the favourite. As it is, the differences are down to the annual rings in the darkened holdfast. wasmuthii has regular annual rings whereas subfloridana has irregular. Wasmuthii is said to have a brickwork like pattern. Taking into account this pattern and the status and distribution we are left with Usnea subfloridana.
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| Usnea subfloridana |
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| Usnea subfloridana isidiomorphs |
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| Usnea subfloridana stem section |
Amazing!
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