Found on an Alder tree (I think) along Siuslaw river bed in Lane county on 2/15/2020. Getting very conflicting info on name. Also an article discussing how Usnea is commonly difficult to properly ID. Sorry for terrible pics and not being up close. Thanks for any support;) Reference pics all of same possible lichen: 415, 416, 417, 418 & 419. Dolichousnea Longissima? Alectoria? 

Articus (2004) recognized several genera within Usnea, Dolichousnea being one of them. This has had a mixed reception, with some people adopting the segregate genera (Neuropogon, Eumitria, Dolichousnea), others not. She showed that Usnea is monophyletic, so it is really just a matter of taste whether one accepts Usnea in the broad sense vs. splitting it. I'm not sure why, but the current N Am checklist recognizes Dolichousnea but not Neuropogon. Ironically, wanting to recognized Neuropogon at the genus level was the reason Articus gives for segregating Eumitria and Dolichousnea (thus keeping the remnants of Usnea monophyletic). Personally, I am happy with Usnea in the broad sense as one of the most easily identified lichen genera in the world.

In my herbalism class, U L I knew as a kung herb and more in a clump, attached in smaller bushy structures along branches, vs the long attached vines that intermingle. Here is a pic of what I thought it was (but hey, the term longissima makes more sense in a connected vine) vs clumps. Also a pic of the other species possible name from another lichen society. It’s so interesting because I pay close attention to plants and I don’t recall this one ever, and it’s quite fetching;)