Iceland moss 

Iceland moss is a large lichen, with small dark pins at the edges of its wide channel shaped strips. The upper surface of its moss like stems is greenish or reddish brown and shiny. The underside is pale white. Iceland moss grows to about 5 - 10 cm in height.

Iceland moss grows on broad hummocks at dry heathlands, ridges, rocky forests and mountain heaths. Prevalence area covers Scandinavia, Great Britain and North America.

Iceland moss is a versatile useful plant. Thanks to its high starch content, it has been used in Scandinavia as an extension of flour and as feed for livestock. In herbal use, Iceland moss can be used as an expectorant and can be used for plant staining. Although the Iceland moss grows freely in our forests, picking it requires the permission of the landowner.

Iceland moss is a common basic species in our forests and it often thrives when growing with mosses.