Cetraria islandica

Cetraria islandica, or Iceland moss, is a lichen whose erect or upright, leaflike habit gives it the appearance of a moss, where its name likely comes from.

Iceland moss
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Cetraria
Species:
C. islandica
Binomial name
Cetraria islandica
(L.) Ach. (1802)
Synonyms
  • Lichen islandicus L. (1753)

Description
Iceland Moss

It is often of a pale chestnut color, but varies considerably, being sometimes almost entirely greyish-white; and grows to a height of from 3 to 4 in., the branches being channelled or rolled into tubes, which end in flattened lobes with fringed edges.[1]

Range

It grows abundantly in the mountainous regions of northern countries, and it is specially characteristic of the lava slopes and plains of the west and north of Iceland. It is found on the mountains of north Wales, northern 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.[1]

Composition
Chemical structure of lichenin.

In commerce it is a light-grey harsh cartilaginous body, almost colorless, and tastes slightly bitter. It contains about 70% of lichenin or lichen-starch, a body isomeric with common starch, but without structure. It also yields a peculiar modification of chlorophyll (called thallochlor), fumaric acid, lichenostearic acid, and cetraric acid (which gives it the bitter taste). It forms a nutritious and easily digested amylaceous food, being used in place of starch in some preparations of cocoa. It also contains lichesterinic acid and protolichesterinic acids.[2]

Uses

It is not, however, in great demand, and even in Iceland it is only occasionally used to make folk medicines,[3] and in a few traditional dishes. In earlier times, it was much more widely used in breads, porridges, soups etc.[4] Cetraric acid or cetrarin, a white micro-crystalline powder with a bitter taste, is readily soluble in alcohol, and slightly soluble in water and ether.[2] It has been recommended for medicinal use by alternative medicine sites, in doses of 2 to 4 grains (0.1 to 0.25 grams), as a bitter tonic and aperient.[2] It is traditionally used to relieve chest ailments,[5] irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes and to suppress dry cough.[6]

  • Engraving of Cetraria islandica - Islandslav.jpga from the 18th century botanical work Flora Danica
  • Cetraria islandica, Sarntaler Alpen, Italy
  • Cetraria islandica, Zillertaler Alpen, Italy
  • Cetraria islandica growing in a mat, Uppland, Sweden
  • Tablets containing Cetraria islandica, used as a dry cough remedy
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References
  1. Angier, Bradford (1974). Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Stackpole Books. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-8117-2018-2.
  2. 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
  3. Cetraria islandica at Plants for the Future
  4. Iceland Recipe
  5. Iceland Moss Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Assessment report on Cetraria islandica (L.) Acharius s.l., thallus" (PDF). European Medicines Agency. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
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