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Hi Peter, Bob & All, Sept 12, 2006<br>
An unusually rich stand (hang ?) of <i>Usnea</i> may also be symptomatic
of tree decline; better exposure to light due to a thinning canopy and (my
guess) more leaching of nutrients out of canopy needles down to the lichen.
Ground cover responds in a similar way; no or sparse ground cover becoming
almost continuous as conifers decline.<br>
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville<br>
<br>
<br>
Bob McDonald wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:001501c6d6a5$85961030$6600a8c0@desktop">
<meta content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name="GENERATOR">
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<div><font size="2">Hello Peter,</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2">Your "fuzzy stuff" growing on the trees are lichens.
This is clearly an Usnea species (a so-called Beard Lichen) but there are
several of these in NS. It looks most like Usnea longissima (Methusaleh's
Beard Lichen) which can be up to 3 m long!!</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2">BTW, lichens do not harm the tree and use it simply
as a substrate, i.e. a place to grow. There is an increasing number of
people in the province interested in learning about lichens, especially
since they are a valuable natural indicator of air quality. In fact, the
Usnea lichens in particular are very intolerant of pollution and are hard
to find, say, on the Halifax peninsula. We have a few small Usnea lichens
growing on a dead Larch in our backyard and as the air quality improves
more, they can get very large. Yours is a very healthy population and clearly
the air quality is very high!!</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2">Cheers,</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2">Bob McDonald</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Clayton Park West</font></div>
<div><font size="2">Halifax</font></div>
<div> </div>
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----- Original Message ----- </div>
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From:</b><a title="peterdewit@gmail.com" href="mailto:peterdewit@gmail.com">
Peter dewit</a>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none; "><b>
To:</b><a title="naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">
naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none; "><b>
Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:09 PM</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size-adjust: none; "><b>
Subject:</b> [NatureNS] Fuzzy "stuff" on trees, ID?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Noticed the "fuzz" growing on the trees at Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve,
Headlands Trail when hiking on Saturday (sept 9th)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I'm not familiar with what it is. They were growing on the base
of the trees, probably taking over the lower 3-5 feet of branches that
started at about 6 feet off the ground, almost no leaves on those branches,
and they were on parts of the trunk. Above that area the trees looked
normal. I did not think to stop and record the type of tree or photograph
more of it while I was on a fast walking pace. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was very dry to touch, probably makes a good fire starter when
in neeed.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Some photos included here:</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove18.JPG">
http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove18.JPG</a>
</div>
<div><a href="http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove19.JPG">
http://halifaxns.net/peterpictures/thomascove/thomascove19.JPG</a>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<hr>No virus found in this incoming message.<br>
Checked by AVG Free Edition.<br>
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/445 - Release Date: 9/11/2006<br>
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