General Information

COMMON NAMES: Old Man's bead, Beard Lichen TRADITIONAL NAMES: ‘Uru Nū (MG), Remu Nū (MK) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE ? - Australia - Cooks - ?; n. to Japan COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; Land, lowlands and uplands SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Medicine KEY FEATURES: Trailing stalks to 20cm. Pale grey-green. The main stalks (=branches) are round with numerous white joints, and they have numerous round branches. SIMILAR SPECIES: Usnea fautauensis is finer and mainly non-branching.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++++	++++	++++	++++		++++

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW

Usnea nidifica Taylor
SYNONYMS: Usnea fautauensis [of Sbarbaro, probably - see Elix]

TAXONOMY: MYCETAE (=Fungi); MYCOPHYCOPHYTA (=Lichens); ASCOLICHENES; Lecanorales; USNEACEAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Medicine. Comments: Chewed and applied to cuts - stops the bleeding - stings (Mangaia). Has been widely used since ancient times in many cultures to make poultices and decoctions to treat skin infections. The genus has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. The antibacterial properties are related to high levels of usnic acid which is an antibiotic.. Comments: For cuts - chewed and applied. Stops bleeding; stings. (Mangaia)

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM05b, zD02, zupD05b

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