Beard lichens in the UK - Where, and on what?
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Ok! By various form of modern communication, as it stands the current crop of tinders are spoken for, just drying the last of the molinia then the post office i hit!
So anyone who has not pm'd me their addy, do so if you wish to proceed.
Thanks.
Ivan...
So anyone who has not pm'd me their addy, do so if you wish to proceed.
Thanks.
Ivan...
Thanks Ivan,
Really appreciate all the effort you've gone to here, I'll let you know when it arrives.
Alex
Really appreciate all the effort you've gone to here, I'll let you know when it arrives.
Alex
My Dear Dave, you are in the fortunate position of being able to come to Dartmoor, to camp at a variety of my permissions, nearly at you leisure sir, and i have photographic evidence stretching back to 2009.
So before casting nasturtiums! I will personally escort you to the secret site, upon your next visit, i will personally gather said tinders for you whilst you admire the view, then treat you to a pint at a local hostelry.
Lots of Love.
Ivan...
Just in response to the original poster, who asked whether Usnea was common in the UK, the answer, according to the lichen sites that I have just been looking on, is that some species may be locally common in areas of minimal air pollution, but generally they are very sensitive to air pollution and so their range is somewhat restricted in the UK. There are several species, and at least 3 are extremely rare.
Without wishing to be a killjoy, because I'm sure Ivan and others do their collecting responsibly, I just thought that this information ought to be mentioned if people are going to be pulling beard lichens off trees (where they may have taken 20 years to grow to a useful size for a bushcrafter) to burn them.
This is not a criticism of anyone in this thread, but please collect Usnea species responsibly.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia page mentions Usnea being useful as a field replacement for sterile gauze, which is certainly worth knowing if you have some handy and need a bit of gauze for a wound dressing.
Without wishing to be a killjoy, because I'm sure Ivan and others do their collecting responsibly, I just thought that this information ought to be mentioned if people are going to be pulling beard lichens off trees (where they may have taken 20 years to grow to a useful size for a bushcrafter) to burn them.
This is not a criticism of anyone in this thread, but please collect Usnea species responsibly.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia page mentions Usnea being useful as a field replacement for sterile gauze, which is certainly worth knowing if you have some handy and need a bit of gauze for a wound dressing.
Good point Harvestman, and useful info there, the special little spot i know of, is just that and i do not share it with many, and of course i forage sensibly and with great care, in my out and about thread, i think i mentioned that there was loads on the ground, which we picked up, also why it took so long to dry!
Regards.
Ivan...
these are both different, harvested them both today. neither seemed to take a spark well but they were pretty damp and are now spending an evening by the radiator.
The lichen I've always wondered about is reindeer moss, which is often very abundant on the ground on moorlands.
(Not my picture)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/204728...7Tn-dBytJW-dgvVu5-aeykxF-bz8GYs-aieZAb-aicbba
However, I have tried it, and it seems to take a spark and burn about as well as a housebrick, even when completely dried. Completely useless. Just wondering whether anyone has tried it with more success than me.
(Not my picture)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/204728...7Tn-dBytJW-dgvVu5-aeykxF-bz8GYs-aieZAb-aicbba
However, I have tried it, and it seems to take a spark and burn about as well as a housebrick, even when completely dried. Completely useless. Just wondering whether anyone has tried it with more success than me.
I have never seen it in the flesh, so to speak, it does grow over the border in Cornwall, but they guard it with their lives!
It is protected.
Ivan..
Curious. Thanks for that. Again, there must be lots of similar species. It is super-abundant where I am. Literally everywhere on the hills. I suspect that "Reindeer Moss" is one of those generic terms that covers a whole raft of species that all look similar to the non-expert eye.
Maybe of interest, but where i worked fo 6 years high on Dartmoor, the last of the semi culivated fields if you like were hard to access apart from on foot, the last 2 areas were untouched by human hands for donkeys years apart from the odd roe deer.
The owner decided to clear these areas about 40 years ago, and the only real way was to roll or bruise the bracken (as the fronds are unfurling) with horse and small granite roller, and she said it was also abundant with reindeer moss, the excersise was a waste of time as the fields were never grazed, the bracken returned but never a single sign of the lichen, and i looked!
Was also told once over grazed or bruised/trampled it takes decades to return, hence the protection in Cornwall i assume.
Ivan...
The owner decided to clear these areas about 40 years ago, and the only real way was to roll or bruise the bracken (as the fronds are unfurling) with horse and small granite roller, and she said it was also abundant with reindeer moss, the excersise was a waste of time as the fields were never grazed, the bracken returned but never a single sign of the lichen, and i looked!
Was also told once over grazed or bruised/trampled it takes decades to return, hence the protection in Cornwall i assume.
Ivan...
Hmm, there are sheep all over where I find it. Probably other factors involved too. I'll do some further research.
Ah, it appears that reindeer moss is an arctic/boreal species, so would be on the edge of its range in Cornwall, hence being protected as an LBAP species, but is increasingly common as you go north, hence me finding it frequently on hilltops in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons.
Still rubbish as a tinder though
Still rubbish as a tinder though
Ah, it appears that reindeer moss is an arctic/boreal species, so would be on the edge of its range in Cornwall, hence being protected as an LBAP species, but is increasingly common as you go north, hence me finding it frequently on hilltops in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons.
Still rubbish as a tinder though
AAH! Obviously not protected up north then? Still you have answered the vital question - Rubbish tinder! Upsets your guts if you ingest too much and it don't even look any good for bum wiping!
Search now over!
Ivan...
I'd just like to thank Ivan wholeheartedly, my package of Tinders turned up today.
You're a true gent.
Alex
You're a true gent.
Alex
You are very welcome my friend, 7 packages went out on Wednesday morning, 1st class, one arrived yesterday morning in South Wales, and now yours, great.
I did wonder if there might be a delay, no not because they are busy with the festive season, only the lady in the post office asked me what was in the packages and i foolishly blurted out grass!!
One of my nosey neighbours asked me what i was drying on the heater!
Good to keep em on their toes.
Ivan...
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