Thank you very much Katharina, for this interesting information.
My last trip to Iceland was in 199?. We ate a dessert made of Fjallagrös,
some local people told me that I could collect Fjallagrös, but I preffered
to buy it and made dessert with milk and suger back home. In the summer of
1996 we travelled thru Lapland. There we ate soup of Lichens (according to
the menu card). I collected some lichens there, but for decoration, not for
eating.
I am glad, you have joined the group. You, native of scandinavia, can add or
correct my information, which I collect in my holidays.
When I think of Sweden, I remember the nice trip on Göta kanal.
Regards
Nalini
Ritterhude / Germany
53.183 degrees north.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Katarina" <[email protected]>
To: "efloraofindia" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2011 10:37 AM
Subject: [efloraofindia:60562] Re: Fruits & Vegetable week: Iceland Moss
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
--
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"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 -
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