daphne stone wrote:

The CMA is good. The shape of soralia and if it has isidia or not. UV+ or UV- (that is the 1st char I'd look at if there are big white annular rings). Then I'd use my previous knowledge, which as i mentioned, will be in a little pamplet in a year or so.

 

They're just really tough and highly variable.

 

I agree with Daphne, to use the CMA on this. U. silesiaca is somewhat distinctive in that (see p. 359). Annular cracking can be indicative but rarely conclusive. I would also check the chemistry, but without TLC it's more challenging. Note that U. silesiaca keys as either pendulous or tufted. It's often tufted or in between.

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You folks rock! My deep genuflections, in your directions. 

Bruce, I'm finding your illustrated glossary particularly useful as I climb Mt. Argot. Hopefully I crest before the pages wear out.

I'll do another longitudinal section and try for a better CMA. Also will redo chemical tests, and while I'm not sure of the wavelength, I think I recall that my grandson has a UV light in a detective kit. Will that work?

You both mention the isidia, and  in my inexperience I don't know if I'm seeing isidia or just small fibrils. Tips? Thoughts from my photos? Need more/better photos?

Thanks for all! :) 

daphne stone wrote:

yes - fibrils vs isidia. Just look to see if there are small fibrilly-looking isidia coming out of soralia. The ones on the branches not in soralia are more difficult to decide on.

Given all the information that you & Bruce have offered, and having read most recently STUDIES ON THE LICHEN GENUS USNEA IN EAST FENNOSCANDIA AND PASIFIC NORTH AMERICA PEKKA HALONEN Department of Biology OULU, I'll just content myself with what I'll call the Usnea Mystique. :) http://jultika.oulu.fi/files/isbn9514255240.pdf

For now I have changed my records for the Usnea that I presented to Usnea silesiaca as Bruce says is suggested.

I have been working on a Peltigera for a while now and will post on that as soon as I get some technical difficulties sorted out.

Thanks for all the help!