Nodobryoria abbreviata

Nodobryoria abbreviata, the tufted foxtail lichen, is a species of fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was originally classified as a form of Alectoria in 1889, then moved to the genus Bryoria, before being transferred to the newly created genus Nodobryoria in 1995 based on distinctive anatomical and chemical differences. The lichen grows throughout western North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, typically found on conifer bark and dead wood in forests from valley bottoms to near the tree line. It is most common in the interior Pacific Northwest, especially in open pine and larch forests east of the Cascade Range. The species can be distinguished from similar lichens by its distinct surface texture, which has a matte appearance created by interlocking cells arranged like jigsaw puzzle pieces, and by its complete lack of secondary metabolites that are commonly found in related species. In forest ecosystems, it ranks among the more abundant epiphytic li......read more on Wikipedia.