Iceland Lichen

Iceland's lichen is a wild plant found in the mountains of northern, central and eastern Europe. Belonging to the family Parmeliaceae, it grows in abundance especially in moors at Bruyères. This moss is easily found on the surface of the rocks, on the barks of trees and on the ground. The lichen is made up of fruticulous thalli whose strips can be 6 cm long and 15 mm wide. These thalles appear, as appropriate, in the form of standing or erect tufts. They are light to reddish brown on the upper parts and dark brown at the base. Iceland lichen is perfectly edible. Having soaked it in water, it is advisable to boil it until a jelly that can serve as a basis for soups.