This is abundant in hemlocks in the bottom of deep valleys of Cataloochee area. It has a very yellowish, fine, smooth look to it. It fails to key out in "Lichens of North America", but it keys out very convincingly in "Macrolichens of New England" (Hinds & Hinds). The key characters are the conspicuous articulated, or bone-like, joints, and the K+ yellow to red reaction. The latter spot test turned bright red instead of deep blood red. This reaction is more typical of norstictic acid than salazinic. Also, U. merrillii is not recorded for the park. But the only thing on the park checklist that comes close is U. trichodea which also has the bone-like joint cracks, however this species has different chemistry (K+ yellow, KC+ pink/orange, CK+ orange/red).