The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Reindeer Moss

any lichen of the genus Cladonia, including C. rangiferina, C. alpestris, and C. sylvatica. Sometimes only the first species is called reindeer moss. Because of their bushy, heavily branched layers, the lichens are occasionally separated into the genus Cladina. It provides good fodder for reindeer. Some species contain usnic acid, which has antibiotic properties.

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The fruticose lichens of the genus Cladonia (known as reindeer moss as they are the reindeer's main food in winter) resume full activity as soon as the snow melts when spring arrives, when the temperature of the thallus is only 41[degrees]F (5[degrees]C).

2 Life in the tundra

Then the reindeer moss finally makes its long-awaited appearance, moving down from its former spot in the savoury section to the headline dessert billing.

foraging for flavour as the smoke clears; MANA'S VISION IS STRONG, BUT JUST A LITTLE CLOUDED..

Here, it spreads its green stems--cloaked with sharp spines and the last of its yellow fall leaves--above softly mounding reindeer moss (Cladonia rangiferina).

Darkness falls: forget the fake Halloween cobwebs: these plants will set a moody--even spooky--tone on your porch for fall

THE DINNER Reindeer moss The presentation is simple and beautiful.

Spoonfuls of joy without any frontiers; Mary Griffin visits an exciting new pop-up restaurant with some wild ideas and a complete lack of any rules

Their extended Beamish stay will give visitors a great opportunity to enjoy an up-close audience with these magical animals, as well as the chance to feed them with some of their special reindeer moss gathered from a forest floor in Norway.

Bells ringing out for Christmas at Beamish

There he purchased a large quantity of reindeer moss (actually lichen, mainly Cladonia spp.) from the farmers in the nearby Roros area.

The Yukon Relief Expedition and the Journal of Carl Johan Sakariassen

For a restaurant that's caused such a stir before even opening - thanks to the 16-course menu that includes dishes such as fried reindeer moss and 'next year's cucumbers' - the decor is surprisingly simple.

Mana from heaven; THE MAN BEHIND THE NEW VENTURE EARNED HIS STRIPES AT NOMA IN COPENHAGEN