Bryoria

Bryoria is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Parmeliaceae. Many members of this genus are known as horsehair lichens. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in boreal and cool temperate areas.

Taxonomy
Bryoria was circumscribed in 1977 by lichenologists Irwin Brodo and David Hawksworth, with Bryoria trichodes as the type species.

Description
Bryoria species are fruticose, slender and hair-like, tending to grow hanging (pendent) or like a small bush. They range in colour from dark brown to pale greyish brown to grey in some species. Ascospores are colourless, ellipsoid, numbering eight per ascus.

Other hair-like lichens that may be confused with Bryoria include dark brown species of Bryocaulon, Nodobryoria, Pseudephebe, Alectoria, or Cetraria.

Habitat and distribution
Found almost exclusively on conifers, or on tundra soil, Bryoria collectively has a widespread distribution, especially in boreal and cool temperate areas.

Species

 * Bryoria alaskana Goward & Myllys (2016)
 * Bryoria araucana Boluda, D.Hawksw. & V.J.Rico (2015) – Chile
 * Bryoria barbata Li S.Wang & D.Liu (2017) – China
 * Bryoria bicolor (Hoffm.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Electric horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria capillaris (Ach.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria carlottae – Languid horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria cervinula – Mottled horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria chalybeiformis (L.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria fastigiata Li S.Wang & H.Harada (2006)
 * Bryoria forsteri Olech & Bystrek (2004) – Antarctica
 * Bryoria fremontii (Tuck.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Edible horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria friabilis – Friable horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria fruticulosa Li S.Wang & Myllys (2017) – China
 * Bryoria furcellata (Fr.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Burred horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria fuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Pale-footed horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria glabra – Shiny horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria hengduanensis Li S.Wang & H.Harada (2003) – China
 * Bryoria implexa (Hoffm.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria inactiva Goward, Velmala & Myllys (2013)
 * Bryoria irwinii Goward & Myllys (2016)
 * Bryoria kockiana Velmala, Myllys & Goward (2013) – Kock's horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria lanestris (Ach.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria nadvornikiana (Gyeln.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Blonde horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria nitidula (Th. Fr.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Tundra horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria pikei – Streaked horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria pseudofuscescens (Gyeln.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Mountain horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria rigida P.M.Jørg. & Myllys (2012) – Asia
 * Bryoria salazinica – Salazinic acid horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria simplicior – Spangled horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria smithii (Du Rietz) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria subcana (Nyl. ex Stizenb.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria tenuis (E.Dahl) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Pied horsehair lichen )
 * Bryoria trichodes (Michx.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977) – Inelegant horsehair lichen
 * Bryoria vrangiana (Gyeln.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. (1977)
 * Bryoria wui Li S.Wang (2017) – China
 * Bryoria yunnanensis Li S.Wang & Xin Y.Wang (2017) – China