Beard Lichen

Beard Lichen is truly captivating in its unique structure, similar to a sea plant or an ocean coral. It is an indicator of clean air which is plenty down here in Cornwall. However, I once found a tiny flake growing on a tree in Birmingham (Lickey Hills). Needless to add, no other visitor in the area shared my excitement at the tiny green spec!!

Based on a fossil found in some Baltic amber, the genus this lichen belongs to is known to date back at least 34 million years.

Beard Lichen (Usnea filipendula)