Iceland moss
Encyclopedia
Iceland moss 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.
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, and in a few traditional dishes. In earlier times, it was much more widely used in breads, porridges, soups etc. 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.
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
whose erect or ascending foliaceous habit gives it something of the appearance of a moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
, 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
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. It is found on the mountains of north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, north England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and south-west Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In North America its range extends through Arctic regions, from Alaska to Newfoundland, and south in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
to Colorado, and to the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
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
Lichenin
Lichenin, also known as lichenan or moss starch, is a complex glucan occurring in certain species of lichens. It can be extracted from Cetraria islandica . It has been studied since about 1957...
or lichen-starch, a body isomeric with common starch
Starch
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...
, but wanting any appearance of structure. It also yields a peculiar modification of chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
(called thallochlor), fumaric acid
Fumaric acid
Fumaric acid or trans-butenedioic acid is the chemical compound with the formula HO2CCH=CHCO2H. This white crystalline compound is one of two isomeric unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, the other being maleic acid. In fumaric acid the carboxylic acid groups are trans and in maleic acid they are cis...
, 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
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar...
. 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, and in a few traditional dishes. In earlier times, it was much more widely used in breads, porridges, soups etc. Cetraric acid or cetrarin, a white micro-crystalline powder with a bitter taste, is readily soluble in alcohol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
, and slightly soluble in water and ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
. 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.