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Usnea fillipendula ("fishbone beard lichen") on a spruce trunk, north shore of Lake Superior, Ontario.

Species of Usnea contain usnic acid, which has well documented antibiotic properties. Usnea has been used medicinally since ancient times (in Greece and China at least) and throughout the world, except, apparently, in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

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Photograph copyright Stephen/Sylvia Sharnoff

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