The genera shown in the photograph appear to be sp. of *Usnea* and *Parmelia *. Pls. confirm.
On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 11:12 AM, Pankaj Oudhia <[email protected]>wrote: > Few excerpts > > "Many female herb collectors informed that Kai (Lichen) can be used in dry > from in treatment of Diarrhoea particularly in case of Diarrhoea in small > children. This is considered as simple as well as useful treatment. I have > mentioned in previous articles that in many parts of Chhattisgarh, Kai is > used externally as aphrodisiac." > > Source: > http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/publish/journal.cgi?folder=journal&next=528 > > *"SOME FORGOTTEN TRADITIONAL FORMULATIONS OF CHHATTISGARH, INDIA. 446. > Undkosh Ke Sujan Ke Dawa. (The remedy for swelling in scrotum).* > > > MAJOR INGREDIENTS: Chandan (Santalum album) wood powder and Kai (Lichen). > > > METHOD OF USE: Both ingredients are mixed and an aqueous paste is applied > externally on affected part. > > > REMARKS: The use is continued till complete cure. " > > Source: > http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/publish/journal.cgi?folder=journal&next=2442 > > "In order to get more unique and secret formula, I have disclosed the use > of Mucuna roots and Trombidium mite for this purpose. After long discussion, > I have noted some formula and after coming back, I searched the reference > literature but not got the references. According to this herb collector, > during rainy season a special type of Kai (Lichen) appear on the rocks, > which smell like rotten egg, is very useful in increasing the sexual desire. > " > > Source: http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/30_one_night.html > > > regards > > Pankaj Oudhia > > > > On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 10:52 AM, Inderjeet Sethi <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Dear All, >> This is a portion of information about lichens as food. The attached pic >> was taken in a local market selling masala ingredients. >> >> Lichens for food: There are records of lichens being used as food by many >> different human cultures across the world.Lichens are eaten by people in >> North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and perhaps elsewhere. Often >> lichens are merely famine foods eaten in times of dire needs, but in some >> cultures lichens are a staple food or even a delicacy. Two problems often >> encountered with eating lichens are that they usually contain mildly toxic >> secondary compounds, and that lichen polysaccharides are generally >> indigestible to humans. Many human cultures have discovered preparation >> techniques to overcome these problems. Lichens are often thoroughly washed, >> boiled, or soaked in ash water to help remove secondary compounds. >> >> In the past *Cetraria islandica* (Iceland moss) was an important human >> food in northern Europe and Scandinavia, and was cooked in many different >> ways, such as bread, porridge, pudding, soup, or salad. *Bryoria fremonii >> * was an important food in parts of North America, where it was usually >> pit cooked. *Cladina rangiferina*, or reindeer lichen , is a staple food >> of reindeer and caribou in the arctic. These lichens provide an important >> component of the ground cover grazed by animals and are also used by >> Laplanders to make hay for their animals. Northern peoples in North America >> and Siberia traditionally eat the partially digested lichen after they >> remove it from the rumen of caribou that have been killed. It is often >> called *'stomach icecream'*. In India, and other centers of curry powder >> production, *garam masala sauce* contains certain lichens used as bulking >> agents. >> >> Many invertebrates (insects, mites and sluges) also use lichens as food. >> They may also be eaten by a number of large hoofed mammals. >> >> >> -- >> ~ik~ >> Dr.Inderjeet Kaur Sethi >> Associate Professor >> Department of Botany >> SGTB Khalsa College >> University of Delhi >> Delhi-110007 >> M: 9818775237 >> > > -- ~ik~ Dr.Inderjeet Kaur Sethi Associate Professor Department of Botany SGTB Khalsa College University of Delhi Delhi-110007 M: 9818775237
