ICELAND MOSS 



northern parts of the world. It covers the ground 

 where it grows, and is from one and one-half to four 

 inches high. It grows largest on the lava near the 

 western coast of Iceland. Many people go there during 

 the summer to collect it. It is said that a person can 

 gather four tons of it in a week. It takes three years 

 for new plants to grow 

 where the old ones have 

 been taken away. 



The illustration on 

 this page shows you the 

 shape of this lichen. It 

 is tough and leathery, 

 but somewhat soft. It 

 has a very bitter taste. 

 Where it is used for food 

 the people chop it in 

 pieces and leave it in 

 limewater for several 

 days to remove this 

 bitterness. It is then 

 dried, powdered, and mixed with flour of the common 

 knotgrass, and made into cakes. These are eaten 

 with the milk of the reindeer. The poor people say, 

 "A bountiful Providence sends us bread out of the 

 very stones." 



Iceland moss is used all over the world. In some 

 countries it is an article of diet for the sick. The doctor 



125 



Iceland Moss. 



