PDF - CES (IISc)

LICHENS AS FOOD 401
The true reindeer moss is abundant in northern countries, more especially
in forest regions 1 and in valleys between the tundra hills which are more or
less sheltered from the high winds; it is independent of the substratum and
flourishes equally on barren sand and on wet turf; but grows especially well
on soil devastated by fire. For long periods it may be covered with snow
without injury and the reindeer are accustomed to dig down with horns and
hoofs in order to reach their favourite food. Though always considered as
peculiarly " reindeer "
moss, deer, roebuck and other wild animals, such as
Lemming
rats 2
, feed on it largely during the winter. In some northern
districts it is collected and stored as fodder for domestic cattle ; hot water
Fig. 128. Celraria islandica Ach. (S. H., Photo.}.
is poured over it and it is then mixed with straw and sprinkled with a little
salt. Johnson 3 has reported that the richness of the milk yielded by the
small cows of Northern Scandinavia is attributed by some to their feeding
in great measure on the "reindeer moss."
When Cladonia rangiferina is scarce, a few other lichens 4 are made use
of, Alectoria jubata, a brownish-black filamentous tree-lichen being one of
the most frequent substitutes. Stereocaulon paschale, which grows in large
dense tufts on the ground in mountainous regions, is also eaten by reindeer
and other animals; and Iceland moss, Cctraria islandica, is stored up in
5
the Icelanders and used as fodder. Willemet reports it
large quantities by
as good for horses, oxen, cows and pigs.
1 Kihlman 1890.
4
Lindsay 18*6.
* Linnaeus 1762.
5 Willemet 1787.
3
Johnson 1861.
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