The two common “reindeer mosses” found here in central Florida are the Cladonia evansii and Cladonia subtenuis, with the subtenuis — which means thinner — being less compact than Cladonia evansii. Calgary, AB Here are some more lichen that are commonly eaten. Vertical Gardens – Reindeer Moss Walls $ 82.95 – $ 293.95. That should motivate you to prepare it correctly. If ya can’t eat it, sleep in it. Anyway…. It adds natural accents to any floral arrangement. Most people only say the Uisge part (whiskey) so really they are just saying water. It is most prevalent in the boreal forests of Canada, and throughout the tundra. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website. The name is also applied to the related lichen Cladonia portentosa. Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. λειχω (LEAK-ho) means to lick and  λειχην (leak-NEE) is an eruption. That’s some 14%  more carbs than a potato. There are actually five different kinds of lichen: Those that grow in clumps as the one shown here, those that grow in flakes commonly seen on trees, crust lichen, often seen on cemetery stones, lichen that looks like a combination of flakes and crust, and a class called Leprous for powdery patches (so named by the ancient Greek Dioscorides because they resemble the lesions of leprosy.) Whether Reindeer moss is preserved or not, it has a spongy look and feel and can hold its shape and colour under proper care. I am looking to make a lichen pudding…do you know the recipe for that? The lichen does not do well if the surrounding area is polluted because it acts as a sponge and absorbs all the impurities from the atmosphere. When it comes to lichens, though, there’s really not a lot of proper knowing around. Two colors above are Japanese colors: kokeiro or "moss color" and tokiwairo or "thousand year green." Woodsmen in northern Canada reportedly used rock lichen to make a “stimulating” tea by boiling it for 15 minutes. The Irish word for whiskey is “uisce beatha” (pronounced ishka baha) so it’s just slightly different. Inspiring natural, vibrant, and heartwarming homes, gardens, and experiences with those we love. Reindeer moss is a lichen, which is an algae and fungus combination that thrives on cool weather and shade. Mosses are now classified on their own as the division Bryophyta. #bdf8a3. Oh….You can also eat any lichen you find in the first stomach of a reindeer, but it’s messy and not too good tasting. ABOUT US. A combination of nutritional studies suggest Cladonias are, by dry weight,  1.4% ash, 5.4% protein, 32.9% fiber, 2.1% fat, and 0.501% niacin  3.7% calcium, and 0.09% phosphorus. Lichens grow very slowly, one or two centimeters a year, and can live to be three thousand years old, and can stay in tact another 10,000 years. There it is far better, but not five stars. Reindeer moss is really a lichen: a combination of a fungus and algae that have a symbiotic relationship and form a new plant. What source of info on lichens in the U.S. are there? It is then edible but not greatly palatable. Its most common name is Reindeer Lichen this is because it is a vital source of food eaten by reindeer. Moss is mentioned in the Japanese national anthem. Also eaten are Evernia, Sticta, Umbilicaria esculenta, Peltigera canina, and Aspicilia esculenta. There are two versions of how the word lichen came to be, both of them from the same Greek root. Scones are also made from it. I enjoyed the read. Reindeer Moss has a fresh, soft and spongy feel. The reindeer moss is eaten by both caribou and reindeer, generally speaking, it grows in Canada and in tundra regions. Reindeer Moss gets its name from the fact that it’s a major food source for Reindeer. Sounds exotic doesn’t it? Akvavit comes from the Latin phrase Aqua Vite, which means “water of life.”  The Irish word “whisky” is from the same Latin phrase and means the same thing: “water of life.”  Akvavit/whisky…aqua vite….The obvious conclusion is the Irish spoke ancient Latin with more of an accent than the Scandinavians. Well yes it is but it likes to hold on to its water. These qualities have made it ideal to be used as a poultice on wounds and as nappies for babies. Most moss used in crafts, ‘living’ artwork is in the form of preserved moss. This moss circle is a simple, natural shape that appears everywhere in the natural world from outer space to a drop of water on a table.. A beautiful addition to your home, office or business, hanging moss circles can be displayed alone or arranged in creative groups of different sizes. To calculate, measure the lichen in centimeters from a center point to the outside edge, then multiply by five and subtract the total in years from today to get the latest date that the gravestone could have been made. He was on a two-year trip to Greece, which at the time was enslaved by Turks, a slavery that for Greeks overall lasted over 400 years. And though internally toxic from vulpinic acid they can be used on external wounds and sores. I put a little in soup or beans a few times a year. We have a lot of the gray kind here, the shorter flat gray kind and the deer moss, such as the photo you have of the reindeer moss, and did see the yellow and knew that it was not the edible kind… Just wandering how much can one eat, and how to prepare it. You state that 96% of mushrooms are inedible. You could actually leave foot prints in the lichen like those left in snow… and unknowingly crushing centuries of growth at the same time. any of several lichens of the genus Cladonia, especially the gray, many-branched C. rangiferina, of arctic and subarctic regions, eaten by reindeer and caribou. The colour ranges from pale green to various shades of brown-gray or whitish. Corrections? If this plant was ever to be removed completely from the biome, it would take approximately 30-50 years to recover to damage caused. C. subtenuis is called Dixie Reindeer Moss. With mushrooms (all fungi included) it depends on which expert you choose to quote. They get all the moisture they need out of the air. It’s a pet that can outlive your parrot, and it talks less, too. (Enter a dot for each missing letters, e.g. Not only were lichen used to make alcohol but Russia managed to make a molasses out of it. The size of the lichen directly reflects how long the stone has been exposed and is a common dating technique of natural events. To make the lichen edible they are soaked in several changes of water, better, several changes of water with bicarbonate of soda added to each soaking. Add salt to taste and serve. While 96% of the 10,000 species of mushrooms are not edible (including the one to four percent that will definitely kill you ) only two lichen out of some 20,000 are what we would call poisonous, Letharia vulpina (leth-AH-ree-a vul-PEEN-ah) and Vulpicida pinastri, (vul-pis-EYE-dah pin-AST-try or wol-peek-EE-dah pin-ass-tree)) or Wolf Lichen and Powdered Sunshine Lichen… and conveniently they are both yellow, Wolf Lichen a greenish yellow and the Sunshine Lichen a sulphur yellow. Are you looking for more answers, or do you have a question for other crossword enthusiasts? Needs treatment for palatability. By the way, it burns readily and makes great kindling, or a small hot fire. 1 packed cup Icelandic moss (C. islandica after soaking). The lichen covers immense areas in northern tundra and taiga ecosystems and serves as pasture for reindeer, moose, caribou, and musk oxen. There is one fact which is not accurate. For about 50 years in the 1800’s Sweden led the world in lichen alcohol production with the rest of Europe and Russia joining in. Copyright 2007-2018 – This web page is the property of Green Deane, LLC. IDENTIFICATION: Cladonias: Spongy, grayish mass up to 4 inches thick forming extensive mats three or four inches  high, or clumps. Usnea is also edible but is more valuable as an antibiotic and antiseptic (see separate entry.) Gyrophora,  aka Rock Tripe; Umbiliceria, also aka Rock Tripe, mucilaginous, used for thicken, has antibiotic properties; Historical Note: George Washington’s troops had to eat rock tripe during the deadly winter of 1777 at Valley Forge. Tastes like dirt, but it has trace minerals devoid in most of our foods. Frog Moss/Pillow Moss Sold by Zoo Med. Here are some of my very own first hand experiences: Rock tripe, I’ve mostly eaten a black and grey type with blisters but also a leathery type with a black, velvety underside, does not contain any detectable amount of acid. In Scandinavia it has been used in the manufacture of alcohol, but difficulties in obtaining reindeer lichen arise because of its slow growth rate (3 to 5 mm [0.12 to 0.2 inch] per year). It is considered as very delicate compared to other plants when it comes to overgrazing and trampling on by human deeds, as well as disasters such as fires. Like my hair. Mats of dried moss serve several purposes around your plants. Turtle Moss #939717. Yellow old man’s beard is even more acidic and really tastes like aspirin. One of the most widespread and commonly eaten lichen, by beast and brute alike, is a northern version of what you see above, Cladonia rangiferina, (ran-jiff-er-EYE-nah or ran-ghif-er-EE-nah)  also known as Cladina rangiferina — both Latin for many branching reindeer like. This dates to the Heian period (794–1185) making it the oldest national anthem. I have eaten rock lichen many times – both raw and cooked. Reindeer moss’s roots are weakly f… But, if the lichen you are looking at has any yellow parts, or is yellow, it is best not to eat it. It’s called a jellyfish but is really a colony of different life forms, one group whose job is defense and they sting painfully. You claim you eat it raw…95% of info on the Internet comes back that you are supposed to leech it. Lichen are more likable. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Hand-picked from the forest and mountain areas of Scandinavia, the moss is stabilised using various salts and made into panels for use in interior fit outs. Reindeer Moss (Cladonia rangiferina) is a prime source of food for Reindeer, Caribou and Moose and grows commonly in alpine tundra areas such as Canada and Scandanavia. This is the lichen mentioned in the Bible when it showered starving Israelis with “manna rain”; Alectoria, aka Black Tree Lichen, Indians steamed it for two days in pits, was eaten or dried and powdered for mush or thickener. Also, Green Dean, I’m not sure how the notifications work for your site, or if this gentlemen will be able to see my query, but, if he can’t, would you be able to act as a segway? Lichen is grown commercially in Scandinavia. Have yet to boil some and see if water tastes acidic, in case the acid is there but I can’t get to it by chewing. Never gave me a stomach ache. (403)6057525. I can remember as a boy, living on the northern end of those mountains in Maine, not only playing with C. rangiferina but running through brittle beds of red-topped Cladonia cristatella . If possible could you kindly let me know your contact number or call me. Richly branched, each branch dividing into four, with the main branches distinctly curved in the same direction. Personally I have tasted it raw(non consumption) searching for anything offensive and found it quite palatable, which makes me curious. Then it can be added to various foods, wet or dry  but must be cooked well. That alcohol and molasses could be made from lichen highlights their third interesting aspect: Most lichen, including most of those you see on trees, rocks and old cemetery stones, are some 94%  carbohydrates. Normally you will find it on a thin layer of soil on top of rocks. What the lichen all share is acid and as such require proper preparation if they are to be eaten because unprepared and uncooked they will painfully attack your digestive track. Choose carefully. To get around that you freeze the stomach and its content. Females…. If you’re in the southern US and you think you’ve found Usnea and it has a black hair through the middle you’ve found Spanish Moss. Whether you are bringing new life to your living space, enriching your garden for spring, or designing an unforgettable special occasion, we believe it all starts with heart. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Must be soaked/boiled in copious amounts of water, or water with wood ashes or water with sodium bicarbonate  or potash to get rid of acids. That seems a lot more understandable than the creature normally used to explain symbiotic relationships, the Portuguese Man of War. Preserved reindeer moss is also very expensive. Each branch is usually subdivided into three or four smaller branches. The first is lichen is a symbiotic relationship of two life forms, fungi and algae, with the fungus providing the form and the algae the operating system inside. Many thanks. How can I find out more info, especially for lichens in Tennessee? Reindeer lichen, (Cladonia rangiferina), also called reindeer moss, a fruticose (bushy, branched) lichen found in great abundance in Arctic lands. Also Usnea lichens do not change color during the growing season whereas lichen which closely resemble Usnea do. a large fistful of prepared Icelandic moss (C. islandica after soaking). Just interested to know. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Below the “profile” is an except from the Journal of Economic Botany on how they made mollasses out of lichen. Occasionally (as with reindeer moss) other bright colors are used. Divide, it into 12 equal pieces, roll them out thinly and cut out a. round cake, 7-8 inches in diameter. Lichen can be harder to tell apart than twins in the dark. I assume that you have eaten a meal size amount, would like to know more. Theophrastus (371-284 B.C. Use the “Crossword Q & A” community to ask for help. Looks like the tubes inside a lung. Some versions add far more sugar but that is not traditional. There are approximately 12,000 species. The second version is that  flaky lichen looks like it is licking rocks and trees and were named lichen by botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in 1700. Drain, rinse, barely cover the lichen with water and bring to a simmer can cook until it is gelatinous. Dying Moss #669c7d. ByNature Reindeer Moss, actually a lichen, is our most popular moss for both large and small applications. In another version, the soup is simmered for 2 hours, until somewhat gluey. Pillow Moss. Usnea lichens have an elastic white chord running through the center of the main stem. So when we went up to the cottage a 8 or so years ago and I saw reindeer moss growing all over the cottage property I figured I’d grab some and figure out how to preserve it once I got home. Yet another way is to take about three cups of lichen, cover with water, add about a quarter cup of bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda) put on a stove and bring to a boil and boil for about 15 minutes. Reindeer moss is actually lichen that contains chlorophyll and is capable of producing its own food. It would make for great branding. Dark old mans beard contains a good deal of acid and causes cramps – I was stiff as a needle for several minutes after forcing down a whole plate of it only boiled, very stupidly. Like other types of lichen, reindeer moss is a good indicator of environmental quality because of its high absorption from the surrounding air. carriegerenscoggins@gmail.com. Regards, I maintain the trails on our 400 acre natural island in the middle of the Delaware River. Now, from a marketing point of view, you read it here first: They should reintroduce lichen into their Akvavit. I’m surprised the Russians didn’t try to make rum. SuperMoss Reindeer Moss is one of our top selling mosses for floral decor. A light spray will help with any dust build up. Actually poisonous species is also probably around 30% but I’ve seen estimates as low as 18%. Updates? Dyes are used to return the natural colors. Prepared the lichen then dry it. Most lichen are likable, but not exactly consumer friendly. A method used in China is to boil lichen for 30 minutes and then soak for two days in several changes of water. You have mentioned that C. islandica, but it doesn’t look like you have clarified this is a different genus: Cetraria islandica. Turns out it wasn’t very hard, but finding reliable instructions to do it was. But, along with those carbs is a lot of rock-dissolving acid that can burn your insides, which is why they have to be prepared a certain way. Never eat unprepared and raw lichen unless your life truly depends upon it. Reindeer/Caribou (lichen) Moss – usually dyed and therefore unsafe. I saw a short bit about Canadians used to use “old man’s beard,” and grind it into flour. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Lichen is often cooked until it turns into a gelatinous mass. I am interested in eating the lichens, and noted the Cladonias is “reindeer moss.” Saw a site claiming it was toxic is one does more than drink just one glass of tea from it, but figured that you were right, boil it, and pour off the water, re-boil, and it will not cause nausea. The Icelandic moss is soaked for a few minutes in lukewarm, water to soften it, then drained and chopped. Thanks for the article! Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/science/reindeer-moss, How Stuff Works - Science - Reindeer moss. Reindeer moss is similar to sheet moss, but it has more texture and height and is usually a lighter green color. Even if all chewy and unpleasant flavored mushrooms are included, the number is way lower than that.
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