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Kōrero: Lichens

Old man's beard lichen

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Old man's beard lichen

Old man’s beard lichens (Usnea species) dangling from beech trees are a common sight in subalpine areas of New Zealand. They should not be confused with a vine, old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba), a rampant climber that smothers trees and shrubs and is considered a pest.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10059367

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Maggy Wassilieff, Lichens – Lichens in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/10991/old-mans-beard-lichen (accessed 5 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Maggy Wassilieff, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.