Cladonia rangiferina

Real reindeer moss ( Cladonia rangiferina )

The real reindeer moss ( Cladonia rangiferina ), erroneously referred to as " Iceland moss ", a fruticose is directed with striking pointed downward to one side, tanned branches. It is particularly in the winter months, a significant part of the diet of reindeer. You need about 2 kg lichen (dry weight ) per day.

Features

The whitish Real reindeer moss grows Shrubby the ground resting. The hollow stems ( Podetien ) are gray-white and richly branched with about three or four standing of outgoing branches opened armpits. The surface is dull and seems a bit miserly. The stems bear no flakes or dandruff. Fruiting bodies ( apothecia ) are rarely developed.

Ecology

The lichen is used in the field of summer green deciduous forest and the boreal coniferous forest zone to the tundra. Where it grows on rocky ground, preferably on acid soils of light- rich sites in dwarf shrub heath, poor grass and very sparse forests.

Importance

The edible but very bitter lichen can be used for the production of aquavit. Some lichens are preserved and found as trees for architectural models use.