Synonym(s)
Cladonia impexa; Cladonia stellaris; Reindeer moss
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Mostly shrub or bush shaped symbiosis of fungi and unicellular algae.
OccurrenceThis section has been translated automatically.
Silvermoss grows in the mountains and in cooler parts of Europe, Asia, North America and Tasmania.
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Field of application/useThis section has been translated automatically.
Extracts are used in deodorants, perfumes, aftershave, lotions (herb-male smell!).
Undesirable effectsThis section has been translated automatically.
Allergens are usnic acid, perlatolic acid and other lichen ingredients with depsin/desidone character. Sensitizing potency: Weak to medium strong. Frequency of sensitization: Rare.
Clinical pictureThis section has been translated automatically.
While in Scandinavia, especially in Northern Finland, up to 10% of the collectors who collect lichens suffer from hand eczema, we only occasionally see silver moss contact allergy in cemetery gardeners and florists. Contact with Christmas and model railway decoration material also occasionally leads to sensitization. Several times a phototoxic or even photoallergic effect has been attributed to lichen. Questionable weak allergenic effect for atranrin and usnic acid.
Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.
Silver Moss is mostly imported from Scandinavia in wet or dried form. It is processed into gift articles, wall decorations, cemetery wreaths and flower arrangements. Preferred times of use are Sunday of death, Day of Prayer and Repentance, Christmas. It is also used as an addition to floral arrangements and as a toy, e.g. for making trees for model railways. In Scandinavia the lichen is fed to livestock, especially to reindeer, because of its high protein content, hence the name reindeer lichen.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Carbonero ER et al (2002) Polysaccharides of lichenized fungi of three Cladina spp.: significance as chemotypes. Phytochemistry 61: 681-686
- Hausen BM, Vieluf K (1997) Allergy plants, plant allergens. Ecomed publishing house, Landsberg/Munich, S. 102-104
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer