lichens is also favorite food of reindeers. Behind polarcircle the feed only
on lichens, especially in winter. The reindeers are undemanding anf find
enough lichens under snow.
I don't know if all lichens are edible!
Nalini
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pankaj Kumar" <sahanipan...@gmail.com>
To: "Na Bha" <nabha-megh...@gmx.de>
Cc: <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:37 PM
Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:60157] Fruits & Vegetable week: Iceland Moss
Thats a nice information mam. I assume we should keep lichens among spices.
I have seen people selling Lichens at very high rates in Delhi market
as spices, and these plants are being extracted on a very large scale
from temperate regions in Himalaya (I am just talking about Indian
Lichen market).
Just to add, lichens are one of the preferred food of Musk Deer in
Himalayas.
Pankaj
On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 9:45 PM, Na Bha <nabha-megh...@gmx.de> wrote:
Iceland Moss Cetraria islandica is not a moss, but lichen, a symbiotic
association between algae and fungus.
is a circumpolar plant abundant throughout the arctic and mountains
regions
of the northern countries. It is found on the mountains of north Wales,
north England, Scotland and south-west Ireland. In North America its range
extends through Arctic regions, from Alaska to Newfoundland, and south in
the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, and to the Appalachian Mountains of New
England.
lant Parts Used: The whole plant. The lichen may be gathered throughout
the
year; during the dry weather between May and September is best. It can be
dried for later use by removing loose debris and drying it in direct sun
or
shade. Cetraria islandica is available as a dried whole plant, and as
powdered herb extract.
I don't have my own fotos, because when I visited Iceland digital cameras
were not yet there. I have some slides, but it take quite some time till I
have digitalized all slides.
But dishes of Icelan moss (soup, dessert etc. ) are very tasty, and the
moss
has a flavour like cardamom.
Here http://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/iceland-moss.html you can
find more Information and one Pic.
Regards
Nalini
--
***********************************************
"TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!"
Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae)
Research Associate
Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project
Department of Habitat Ecology
Wildlife Institute of India
Post Box # 18
Dehradun - 248001, India
