State Status: SC
Federal Status: none
State Rank: S2
Global Rank: G4G5
Photo by Jason Hollinger
Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences
Warty Beard Lichen (Usnea ceratina), a Wisconsin Special Concern lichen, is found on rocks but more commonly on bark, twigs, and mossy logs.
Warty beard lichen is a fruticose lichen with unconfirmed apothecia. Its thallus is fruticose and grey-green. Its branches are thick, cord-like, 20-30cm long, pendant, and covered in wart-like tubercles. Fibrils (secondary branches) are common but not abundant, spine-like, and perpendicular to main branch. Medulla is pink.
It can be distinguished from the other beard lichens by its wart-like tubercles that are common on the scraggly branches. Also, the pinkish medulla should be visible in a cross-section.
Soralia are on cord-like branches deriving from bursting tubercles.
Warty beard lichen is found on rocks but more commonly on bark, twigs, and mossy logs.
Associated species include balsam fir, white cedar, yellow birch, white birch, white pine, and hemlock.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations
Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.
