Translingual

Proper noun

Usnea f

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Parmeliaceae – the beard lichens.

Hypernyms

• (genus): Eukaryota - superkingdom; Fungi - kingdom; Dikarya - subkingdom; Ascomycota - phylum; Pezizomycotina - subdivision; Lecanoromycetes - class; Lecanoromycetidae - subclass; Lecanorales - order; Parmeliaceae - family

Hyponyms

• (genus): See Usnea on Wikipedia.Wikipedia for information on the current status of species.

English

Usnea (Usnea barbata) on a tree

Wikispecies

Noun

usnea ‎(plural usneas or usneae)

1. Any lichen of the genus Usnea.
   • 1997, Gregory L. Tilford, Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, page 148,

     The plantlike result of a symbiotic association between algae and fungi, usnea lichen is an important and versatile natural medicine that demands a place in these pages.

   • 2006, Stephen Harrod Buhner, Sacred Plant Medicine: The Wisdom in Native American Herbalism, page 133,

     In Latin the various species of usnea are called Usnea barbata, U. longissima, U. hirta, U. florida, U. ceratina, and U. dasypoga. Because of its appearance the common name for usnea is Old Man's Beard. The Dakota called usnea Chan wiziye.

   • 2008, Matthew Stein, When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency, Revised Edition, page 256,

     Another powerful herb with antibiotic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, usnea is used internally or externally against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Usnea is often combined with spilanthes or echinacea.

References

• Wirtz, N., Printzen, C., Sancho, L.G. and Lumbsch, H.T. 2006. The phylogeny and classification of Neuropogon and Usnea (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) revisited. Taxon 55(2):367 - 376.
• Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1