Technically, most are edible, though there are some that are poisonous, so better to check before putting it in your mouth. I hear they are not very good tasting and have very little nutritional value, so probably not the first choice of what to forage for. If you are in an emergency situation, watch out for things like Wolf lichen which can kill! From one paper I read, it looks like there are more poisonous varieties than originally thought, maybe between 5 and 10%.
Reference:
Kaasalainen, Fewer, Jokela, Wahlsten, Sivonen & Rikkinen. 2012. Cyanobacteria produce a high variety of hepatotoxic peptides in lichen symbiosis. PNAS http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1200279109
I research plan intelligence, plant music, and social innovation. Lichen is a personal favorite, as it is part algae, in conjunction with fungi, not quite plant, but photosynthesizes.... super cool, plus it is puurrttyyy. :)
Technically, most are edible, though there are some that are poisonous, so better to check before putting it in your mouth. I hear they are not very good tasting and have very little nutritional value, so probably not the first choice of what to forage for. If you are in an emergency situation, watch out for things like Wolf lichen which can kill! From one paper I read, it looks like there are more poisonous varieties than originally thought, maybe between 5 and 10%.
Reference:
Kaasalainen, Fewer, Jokela, Wahlsten, Sivonen & Rikkinen. 2012. Cyanobacteria produce a high variety of hepatotoxic peptides in lichen symbiosis. PNAS http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1200279109
You even dropped references @yvesoler.. You're a legend! A true academic..
It is that nerdy side of me that loves to learn new things. If only I found a good way to keep all my references in order!
That's dope man. I think that's pretty special ish right there. Are you a student?
I research plan intelligence, plant music, and social innovation. Lichen is a personal favorite, as it is part algae, in conjunction with fungi, not quite plant, but photosynthesizes.... super cool, plus it is puurrttyyy. :)