Rock tripe

Rock tripe
Umbilicaria hyperborea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Umbilicariales
Family: Umbilicariaceae
Genus: Umbilicaria
Hoffm. (1789)
Type species
Umbilicaria hyperborea
(Ach.) Hoffm. (1796)

Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus Umbilicaria that grow on rocks.[1] They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Rocky Mountains. They are edible when properly prepared; soaking extensively and boiling with changes of water removes the bitterness and purgative properties.[2][3] They have been used as a famine food in extreme cases when other food sources were unavailable, as by early American northern explorers.[2]

Umbilicaria esculenta is commonly used as a food in Asian cuisine and a restorative medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. [citation needed]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Smith et al. 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Angier, Bradford (1974). Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 184. ISBN 0-8117-0616-8. OCLC 799792.
  3. ^ The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. United States Department of the Army. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. 2009. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-60239-692-0. OCLC 277203364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)