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Fr<br />
R<br />
IC<br />
Usnea cornuta<br />
Usnea steineri<br />
IC<br />
R<br />
Fr<br />
Usneaceae<br />
Description Fruticose. The thallus is corticolous or saxicolous. The thallus is erect<br />
and shrubby, with main branches inflated, secondary branches tapering and<br />
distinctly constricted at their base, and curved. The whole thallus is dichotomously<br />
branched. The base is the same colour as the branches, or paler. Fibrils are thick,<br />
short and <strong>of</strong>ten numerous on the tips. Papillae are few to numerous. Soralia are<br />
concentrated at branch tips. The cortex is glossy and thin. The medulla is white,<br />
thick and loose.<br />
Medullary chemistry Chemotypes : (1) salazinic acid (K+ red, Pd+ yellow to<br />
orange) (2) stictic and norstictic acids (K+ yellow to orange, Pd+ yellow to orange)<br />
(3) lobaric and norstictic (4) norstictic acid (5) protocetraric acid (6) chemotype<br />
with no medullary compounds.<br />
Status Rare species. ‘New record for the Indian subcontinent and <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>.<br />
Habitat Restricted to humid high elevation forests above 1200 m. Observed on<br />
trees, rocks and shrubs in open, humid forests.<br />
Description Fruticose. The thallus is corticolous, reddish, erect and shrubby.<br />
The trunk is concolourous and black at its base. The branching is dichotomous,<br />
with the branches tapering to irregular and reddish. Spinules are sparse. The<br />
medulla also has a reddish pigment. Papillae (small, wart-like protuberance) are<br />
numerous. Pseudocyphellae are present on the tubercles (small wart-like tubes).<br />
The cortex is shiny. The medulla is whitish orange. Apothecia are usually present<br />
with numerous cilia. Spores are colourless.<br />
Medullary chemistry (1) Protocetraric acid, related substances, pigment, (2)<br />
norstictic acid, pigment, (3) salazinic acid, pigment. In all three chemotypes<br />
barbatic acid has been frequently found in the apothecia only.<br />
Status Rare species. ‘New record for the Indian subcontinent and <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>.<br />
Habitat Restricted to high elevation humid montane forests above 1400 m. On<br />
twigs and small branches in the tree canopy. Also in open habitats, forest relics,<br />
shrubby areas, and along roads within secondary montane cloud forests.<br />
Usneaceae<br />
Locations Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya district.<br />
Locations Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya district.<br />
160 <strong>Fascinating</strong> <strong>Lichens</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong><br />
<strong>Fascinating</strong> <strong>Lichens</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong> 161
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