Cetraria islandica

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Parmeliaceae

Genus

Cetraria

Growth rate

slow

Height

0.05 m

Spread

0.5 m

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A jelly is made by boiling the whole plant. It is nutritious and medicinal^[9][10][11]. Rather bitter, it requires leaching, which can be done by changing the cooking water once or twice during the cooking process^[2]. The dried and powdered plant can be mixed with wheat and used in making bread^[3][8][11]. It is very bitter and the process required to leach it is far too time-consuming and tedious to be countenanced^[13].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Iceland moss has been used since ancient times as a cough remedy and has also been used in European folk medicine as a cancer treatment^[6]. In present day herbalism it is highly prized for its strongly antibiotic and demulcent actions, being used especially to soothe the mucous membranes of the chest, to counter catarrh and calm dry and paroxysmal coughs - it is particularly helpful as a treatment for elderly people^[6]. Iceland moss has both a demulcent and a bitter tonic effect within the gut - a combination almost unique amongst medicinal herbs^[6]. The whole plant is strongly antibiotic, antiemetic, strongly demulcent, galactogogue, nutritive and tonic^{[7][12][13][4][8][11][1][5][6]}. It is excellent when used internally in the treatment of chronic pulmonary problems, catarrh, dysentery, chronic digestive disturbances (including irritable bowel syndrome and food poisoning) and advanced tuberculosis^[7][6]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of boils, vaginal discharges and impetigo^[5]. The plant can be harvested as required throughout the year^[12], preferably during dry weather, and can also be dried for later use^[13]. Use with caution^[4].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A powerful antibiotic can be obtained from the plant and this has become a fundamental ingredient in a wide range of commercially produced disinfectants^[12]. A brown dye is obtained from the plant^[8][11].

Environment

Range

Britain. Found all over Europe, especially in the Arctic region.

Habitat

Damp places, usually on rocks and the bark of trees, especially conifers^[4].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 2+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

There is no known information on the cultivation of this plant^[5]. It requires clean air and is very intolerant of atmospheric pollution so cannot be grown in towns^[5]. See the plants native habitat above for ideas on how it can be encouraged to grow[K]. This species is a lichen, which is actually a symbiotic association of two different species, one an algae and the other a fungus. It is very slow-growing^[13]. This plant is often used in commercially produced disinfectants^[12].

References

1. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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2. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

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3. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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4. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

   ↩1↩2↩3

5. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

6. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

7. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

   ↩1↩2

8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

9. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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10. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

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11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

12. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

13. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4