Raindeers does not exclusively feed on lichens. If there are more "juicy" alternatives they choose those, which means in summer all sorts of grass and herbs. In winter it is more difficult to find grass due to the snow. They try to dig into the snow as long as possible for species like Cladina rengiferina, C. arbuscula and C. stellaris but switch to epiphytic lichens when the snow cover is too deep. Alectoria, Bryoria and Usnea are the thread like genera that can be seen hanging in old growth conifer forests. The modern forestry is a problem as lichens not will grow as fast as the trees. Therefore the indigenous Sami-people that heard raindeers nowadays feed their animals with regular hay during parts of the winter.
There is at least one poisonous species of lichen: Lethraria vulpina. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letharia_vulpina My personal experience of eating lichens is not soo good. I once tried to make bread by using Cetraria islandica carefully following a recipe, but it became very dry and bitter. For using the edible species it is a matter of removing the bitter substances to improve the taste but I can understand that in times of famine the use in bread was appreaciated. I have never heard of lichens used as spices in the nordic countires. Regards Katarina Stenman Sweden (64 degrees north) On 12 Jan, 17:58, "Na Bha" <[email protected]> wrote: > 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" <[email protected]> > To: "Na Bha" <[email protected]> > > Cc: <[email protected]> > 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 <[email protected]> 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. > > Herehttp://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/iceland-moss.htmlyou 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- Dölj citerad text - > > - Visa citerad text -
