Usnea glabrata
Local name: dvärgskägglav
Usnea glabrata, the lustrous beard lichen, is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. This small, shrubby species typically grows 5–10 centimetres tall.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) tom_carlberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by tom_carlberg
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Parmeliaceae
Genus
Usnea
Usnea glabrata belongs to the family Parmeliaceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Usnea glabrata, the lustrous beard lichen, is a species of beard lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. This small, shrubby species typically grows 5–10 centimetres tall. Distinguished by its somewhat shiny surface, slender branches that taper at both ends, and the presence of powdery reproductive structures near the branch tips, this lichen primarily grows on tree bark in moderately open, humid forests throughout boreal and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. U. glabrata is considered vulnerable in parts of its range due to its small size making it easy to overlook and its relatively sparse collection in recent decades.
Usnea glabrata, a rare lichen species, faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution and habitat degradation. As an epiphytic lichen highly sensitive to atmospheric pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, it has experienced dramatic population reductions in areas with poor air quality.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Usnea glabrata is primarily an epiphytic lichen, growing on the bark of various tree species. In East Fennoscandia, it has been documented most frequently on alder, followed by spruce, birch, and willow, with occasional occurrences on Populus and Sorbus. The species typically inhabits moderately open and humid mixed forests. It often occurs along the shores of water bodies and can also be found...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Usnea glabrata, a rare lichen species, faces severe decline primarily due to air pollution and habitat degradation. As an epiphytic lichen highly sensitive to atmospheric pollutants, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, it has experienced dramatic population reductions in areas with poor air quality.
Acid rain damaging host trees and lichen thalli
Air pollution from industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust
Habitat loss through deforestation and urban development
Climate change altering temperature and humidity patterns
Forest management practices removing old-growth trees
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Usnea glabrata (Usnea glabrata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dvargskagglav