Usnea lichen or beard lichens

This was taken from a small branch fallen from a tree.

The following Information was gathered from various sources.

This Lichen is a combination of an algae and a fungus growing together. Also known as Old Man's beard, it grows in little hair-like tufts, with the green algae covering the white string like fungus. The best way to identify Usnea is to pull a string apart and look for this white thread. Lichens do not have roots and obtain their nutrients from the atmosphere and are highly susceptible to changes in atmospheric chemistry and used as sensitive bio indicators of air quality.