Answer: Lichens differ in their ability to accumulate and tolerate heavy metals. The lichen was used to fill the body cavity of Ancient Egyptian mummies. Litmus is a mixture of dyes extracted from specific lichens, especially Rosella tinctoria. Answer: Lichens release a variety of chemicals that can affect their environment. Thank you for the interesting comment and the congrats, RTalloni. I never thought something so simple could be so complicated! The process of soil production takes time and requires additional processes. Exceptionally well written. photo: Dee Bamford via Flickr Oakmoss – This moss is actually a lichen as well, and is found in a similar climate to reindeer moss. The fungus is often said to be "lichenized" when it's combined with an alga. In Scandinavia it has been used in the… In addition, I wear a mask if I handle anything that's releasing particulate matter into the air because the particles may be harmful to the lungs. Occasionally, both an alga and a cyanobacterium are present. Congrats and have a great weekend! On the other hand, only a few lichens may be harmful when eaten. Reindeer Moss is used as a thickener in soups and stews and can be used to make breads and puddings. As is the case for humans, some lichens may be dangerous for birds and other animals. CAN YOU HELP ME? If you live in the United States, the FDA site may be useful. People who can identify lichens can learn about local environmental conditions by observing which species are present. Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on December 28, 2014: Very interesting. Perhaps your doctor can recommend one, or maybe a different doctor can help you. Clinical tests of the effectiveness of usnic acid in the human body are lacking. It is used mostly as a topical medication, although some consume usnea lichen internally. Scopri quale personaggio del cinema rappresenta la tua vera natura di fundraiser. I think they might dry out too much and become brittle if they were stored indoors. I savored every word of this fascinating article. Very interesting and informative. Both essential oils and absolutes are extracted from the oakmoss. Therefore, people should avoid eating lichens unless they are confident that the type they want to eat is edible and not poisonous and unless they can identify it correctly. Reindeer lichens grow slowly, and mature clumps are often about 100 years old. I'd miss seeing lichens if they disappeared from my neighbourhood. I have a question for you though, recently, while hiking, I found a beautiful Wolf Lichen growth on a dead branch. Reindeer lichens were also used as a poultice to relieve the ache of arthritic joints. I haven't seen any here since I lived in Ohio for 16 years now. With a 50% drop in water content, respiration slowed by only 20% and respiration continued until the lichens were almost completely dehydrated. 2. Thank you for the visit, JSMatthew. The name is said to be derived from the red uniforms worn by British troops during the American revolution. Others can be used as biological sensors that give us information about the environment. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on January 02, 2014: Thank you, Dianna. 4) When grazing, a reindeer’s preferred food is a lichen – a fungi, moss-like plant that’s often found in high, open spaces. With a very few exceptions, lichens were generally used as food in famine situations instead of by choice. They also need to discover how the chemicals affect our body. I added a link from this hub to mine titled Pictures of Mushrooms and Fungus - Wild Ones! The bacteria and protozoans in the rumen also help to break down lichen compounds into sugars that the animals can use. The usnic acid content helps Reindeer to break down fat reserves during the winter months. Lichens are beautiful and somewhat mysterious organisms that are classified into three main types, based on the form of their body, or thallus. The chief among them were Peltigera camana, Lobaria pulmonaria and Everina. Lichens do contain iodine, but I don't know the typical concentration that's present. #4lead It’s often mixed with other foraged foods to improve its taste. They dry out when the weather is warm and then rehydrate when the atmosphere is moist. Overview Information Iceland moss is a lichen. I have just written an article about Usnea Lichen which is killing the trees in my garden. Northern native people used reindeer lichen in medicinal teas to treat colds, arthritis, fevers and other problems (Perez- Llano, 1944). I can understand why you're confused because the names are so similar, but lichen planus is thought to be an autoimmune disease, not an infection. Reindeer moss (a lichen) also has a history: After being dried and converted to a powder, it acts as a thickener (used to make blancmange, a showy dessert popular from the … The alga in the partnership may be a green alga or an organism that used to be called a blue-green alga but is now known as a cyanobacterium. It can also be used to help ease diarrhea. They also provide food for animals and materials that they can use to build their homes or nests. evansii — named after North Carolina botanist Alexander W. Evans — has no official common name but it is called Powder Puff Lichen. 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.C. This may not be a safe or an effective practice, however, as explained below. Another very interesting and useful hub by you again Alicia. It turns red when exposed to an acid and blue when exposed to a base (alkali). Ecological importance: Many Crustose lichens growing on rocks dissolve and disintegrate them into soil particles. Can you help us Identify and Classify Lichens? Nostoc is a common cyanobacterium in lichens. Modern wool and fabric dyers often emphasize conservation as they collect lichens. A survey of your local lichens sounds interesting. Knowing that it is poisonous, I got a little stress now. In addition, most of the lichens' cells had no observable damage when examined under high magnification. Usnea is awesome. Iceland moss. Laboratory tests on equipment and animals prove that using contains antimicrobial properties for killing viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Lichen also thrives with little or no care in extreme weather conditions. The most common traditional medicinal application for Usnea spp. Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on April 30, 2016: I think the most interesting is the natural sunscreen aspect. The wolf lichen (Letharia vulpina) has a bright yellow-green colour and grows in Europe and western North America. Northern native people used reindeer lichen in medicinal teas to treat colds, arthritis, fevers and other problems (Perez- Llano, 1944). In addition, a number of species have had a major importance in the past as dyestuffs, and Harris tweeds still are made with the original lichen dyes. Reindeer Moss acts like a sponge,collecting and retaining water. Unfortunately, after about 20 years the lower parts start to decompose and eventually you must make an arbitrary decision as to what is living and what is dead. Iceland moss. The word "lichens" is generally pronounced "likens". Reindeer lichens were also used as a poultice to relieve the ache of arthritic joints. Interesting, yes--lesson in not switching thoughts in the middle of a sentence. That I thought went extremely deep, the lichen began and is still coming to the surface, it now itches. Answer: Lichens are classified according to the fungus that they contain and are placed in the Fungi kingdom. Sami herders were accused of denuding the fjells and cast as failed stewards of the land at best, greedy ecocriminals at worst. The supposed medicinal benefits of lichens are now known to … You would have to send a sample to a reputable laboratory and get it analyzed for its chemical content. (Lichens don't harm trees. Answer: The edibility and safety of every lichen that is currently known haven’t been tested. Tree reindeer lichen (C. arbuscula) is a similar, closely related species. None of them have ever itched, much, unless I tried to remove them, with the MANY VARIOUS CREAMS THAT MY Dr. I've never heard of any dangers related to burning branches with lichen growing on them. Other important factors likely include whether the fungus or the alga absorbs or stores the metals, the chemical form and location in which a specific metal is stored, and whether or not the lichen releases the metals from its thallus in some form. Thank you for such a lovely comment, Bill! I hope you have a great weekend, too! Answer: I don’t know whether it’s safe since I don’t know how your chosen product is made or the identity of all the chemicals in it and their concentrations. CMHypno from Other Side of the Sun on January 02, 2014: I always learn so much from your hubs Alicia. Audrey Howitt from California on January 02, 2014: Lichens make a wonderful dye for silks and wools--Loved your article! In natural medicine, Usnea is used as an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory substance. 1 year ago. Unlike a plant, a lichen doesn't have roots, stems, or leaves. You can just use alcohol but the double process is much stronger. are commonly used in traditional medicines. Up and shared. They have been used for both their secondary metabolites and their storage carbohydrates. The acid from reindeer moss is used in the manufacture of litmus paper. It is both cleaner and has less dust than other types of moss. Oxalic acid triggers the release of minerals from rock, causing the rock to slowly disintegrate. Lichens are used in traditional medicines by cultures across the world, particularly in temperate and arctic regions. This is Usnea filipendula. Although hoofed mammals can survive for several months on a lichen diet, they usually lose body weight because of protein deficiency. Thanks for the visit and the comment, Eddy. Step 3 Provide your reindeer moss with good quality air. There may be many more lichens in the poisonous category. Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides get’s it’s name from Usnea because of their similar appearance. Reindeer moss is used medicinally by natives to relieve kidney stones. Lichens have a high resistance to damage by dehydration and the ability to quickly absorb a large quantity of water after dehydration ends. In this symbiosis, the fungi provide structure, nutrients, and protection that allow the algae to photosynthesize and produce sugars for the fungi. Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on April 30, 2016: Linda, congrats on another HOTD! Thank you very much for the comment and for sharing your experience, Audrey! Reindeer moss is a lichen, which is an algae and fungus combination that thrives on cool weather and shade. It is amazing how they are used in products. The Cree Indians used the green reindeer lichens in a manner similar to the Nordic natives for medicinal teas, specifically for the expulsion of intestinal worms. Is antiseptic are caused by E. coli, with the dye to appear lichens cells. Arctic regions have read recently, while hiking, i think the most common traditional medicinal uses is to! 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