About Wolf lichen and Sphagnum Moss

Wolf lichen (Letharia vulpina)

Bryophytes.

A little history; although we don't think of lichens, mosses and liverworts as foods, through out history people around the world have managed to discover how bryophytes can be utilized. Sphagnum Moss has proven over time to lend its anti fungal properties to uses in bedding, plant propagation, first aid wound dressing, in prospecting, to mention a few.

Here's a practical application for Sphagnum Moss:

"Sphagnum Moss has important advantages (as an absorbent) over cotton-wool. Many materials, including other kinds of moss, are equally soft and light, but none can compare with it in power of absorption, due to its sponge-like structure. Prepared Sphagnum can absorb more than twice as much moisture as cotton, a 2-OZ. dressing absorbing up to 2 lb. Even the best prepared cottonwool lacks the power to retain discharges possessed by Sphagnum. A pad of Sphagnum Moss absorbs the discharge in lateral directions, as well as immediately above the wound, and holds it until fully saturated in all parts of the dressing before allowing any to escape. The even absorption of the moss is one of its chief virtues, for the patient is saved a good deal of disturbance, since the dressing does not require to be changed so frequently."

Although the apparent nutritional value is minimal, many of the Nordic animals feed on lichens especially in times of duress.

Some of the places I have seen on my walks made me wonder how long certain rocks and boulders had been sitting there gathering mosses. I am always looking for interesting things to take pictures of and sometimes the most interesting things I can find have been these patches of mosses ranging in colors from orange, greens, shades of gray and yellows; not to mention the textures scaly, fuzzy, crusty, sea urchin like. And that's just on the rocks and on drift wood.

You might have seen the bright green type "wolf lichen" (Letharia vulpina) growing on branches up in the hills.

Here's a bit on "wolf lichen":

"Few lichens are poisonous; "Wolf Lichen" is one of them. It was the most widely used dye lichen for native peoples in North America, from what is now the Yukon, down the west coast, and through the mountain states into Arizona. The Apache painted wolf-lichen crosses on their feet so they could pass their enemies unseen. Its name reflects its traditional use in northern Europe as a poison for wolves, and the Achomawi used it (sometimes with rattlesnake venom added) to make poison arrowheads. Nonetheless, the Blackfoot and the Okanagan-Colville took "Wolf Lichen" as a medicinal tea. Many other lichens have been used medicinally, and it is estimated that about 50% of all lichen species have antibiotic properties."

I use Wolf Lichen as inclusions in soap as a natural dye and gentle abrasive.