[1] Found in the Galápagos Islands, it characterized by its pendulous thallus, branches covered with point-like pseudocyphellae, and the presence of galbinic acid.

Usnea leana was first described scientifically by Frank Bungartz, Camille Truong, and Maria de los Angeles Herrera-Campos as a new species in 2018.

It closely resembles Usnea deformis, another species found in the Galápagos, but can be distinguished by its entangled thallus, minute pseudocyphellae, and punctiform soralia.

Usnea amabilis, found in the tropical Andes, also has a similar morphology but differs in terms of its pruinose cortex and chemical composition.

[2] Usnea leana is endemic to the Galápagos Islands and has only been found in two locations to date, representing the collection sites of the holotype and paratype specimens.