Iceland moss

Iceland moss
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.

Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) is a lichen whose erect or ascending foliaceous habit gives it something of the appearance of a moss, whence probably the name. 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 terminate in flattened lobes with fringed edges.

Iceland Moss

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, 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.

As met with in commerce it is a light-grey harsh cartilaginous body, almost destitute of color, and having a slightly bitter taste. It contains about 70% of lichenin or lichen-starch, a body isomeric with common starch, but wanting any appearance of structure. It also yields a peculiar modification of chlorophyll (called thallochlor), fumaric acid, lichenostearic acid, and cetraric acid (to which last it owes its 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

It is not, however, in great demand, and even in Iceland it is only occasionally used to make folk medicines,[1] and in a few traditional dishes. In earlier times, it was much more widely used in breads, porridges, soups etc.[2] 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. It has been recommended for medicinal use, in doses of 2 to 4 grains (0.1 to 0.25 grams), as a bitter tonic and aperient. It is traditionally used to relieve chest ailments.[3]

Gallery

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

  1. ^ Cetraria islandica at Plants for the Future
  2. ^ Iceland Recipe
  3. ^ Iceland Moss

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Iceland moss — Moss Moss (m[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. mos; akin to AS. me[ o]s, D. mos, G. moos, OHG. mos, mios, Icel. mosi, Dan. mos, Sw. mossa, Russ. mokh , L. muscus. Cf. {Muscoid}.] 1. (Bot.) A cryptogamous plant of a cellular structure, with distinct stem and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Iceland moss — Ice land moss (Bot.) A kind of lichen ({Cetraria Icelandica}) found from the Arctic regions to the North Temperate zone. It furnishes a nutritious jelly and other forms of food, and is used in pulmonary complaints as a demulcent. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Iceland moss — n. an arctic lichen (Cetraria islandica) sometimes used as a food and in folk medicine …   English World dictionary

  • Iceland moss — an edible lichen, Cetraria islandica, of arctic regions, containing a starchlike substance used in medicine. [1795 1805] * * * ▪ lichen       fruticose (branched, bushy) lichen with an upright thallus usually attached in one place. It varies in… …   Universalium

  • Iceland moss — Ice·land moss .ī slən(d) mȯs, .ī .slan(d) n a lichen of the genus Cetraria (C. islandica) of mountainous and arctic regions sometimes used in medicine or as food * * * 1. Cetraria islandica, a lichen native to Iceland. 2. a preparation of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Iceland moss — (also Iceland lichen) noun a brown branching lichen with stiff spines along the margins of the fronds, which can be boiled to produce an edible jelly. [Cetraria islandica.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Iceland moss — Ice′land moss′ n. fng pln an edible lichen, Cetraria islandica, of arctic regions • Etymology: 1795–1805 …   From formal English to slang

  • Iceland moss — noun lichen with branched flattened partly erect thallus that grows in mountainous and Arctic regions; used as a medicine or food for humans and livestock; a source of glycerol • Syn: ↑Iceland lichen, ↑Cetraria islandica • Hypernyms: ↑lichen •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Iceland moss — noun Date: 1805 a lichen (Cetraria islandica) of mountainous and arctic regions sometimes used in medicine or as food …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Iceland moss — /aɪslənd ˈmɒs/ (say uysluhnd mos) noun an edible lichen, Cetraria islandica, of arctic regions, used to some extent in medicine …  

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