Lungwort Lichen

Lichen
Written By Thomas Young

Lobaria pulmonaria and other Lobaria sp.

See artwork and accessories in our shop celebrating the Lungwort Lichen!

  • Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.

Photo taken by: Alexis Orion

Etymology: The lung lichen, scientifically known as Lobaria pulmonaria, derives its name from its appearance, which features lobes and ridges somewhat resembling lung tissue.

Common/Other Names:

  • Lung lichen

  • Scottland: hazelraw

  • Ireland: crotal coille

  • Germany: lungenkraut

  • China:

    • shí lóng pí (石龙皮) - stone dragon skin

    • shí lóng yī (石龙衣) - stone dragon clothes

    • niúpí yè (牛皮叶) - leather leaf

  • Yunnan, China

    • Dali and Binchuan Counties: qingwapi (Lobaria isidiophora and L. kurokawae)

    • Binchuan County: qinwapi, shuhudie (Lobaria yoshimurae)

  • Sichuan, China

    • Mianning County: laolongpi - Lobaria yoshimurae

Location: Lung lichen is found worldwide, with the largest populations in Europe and North America, particularly in humid or moist areas such as coastal forests. These lichens prefer to grow on trees but can also be found on mossy rocks.

Fun Fungal Facts!

    • Many cultures worldwide have a history of using lung lichen as a remedy for respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma, and general coughing. Notable regions where this practice is documented include the Scottish Highlands, New Forest in England, Bengal in India, the Cuijingo people in Puebla, Mexico, and the Hesquiat people in British Columbia, Canada (Crawford, 2019).

    • Lungwort lichen, along with other lichen, have been used as a bioindicator for pollution, aiding scientists and forest workers in identifying specific areas that require closer monitoring and study. (Blett et al, 2003).

    • Lungwort lichen, along with a few other types of lichen, can produce protease enzymes capable of breaking down prion proteins responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also known as mad cow disease (Rodriguez, 2012).

    • Several species of lungwort lichen, including Lobaria isidiophora, L. kurokawae, and L. yoshimurae, are consumed in Yunnan, China. They are typically boiled and soaked in water before being fried and served with pork. Some groups, such as the Zang (Tibetan) people, consume the lichen during times of famine. Meanwhile, others, like the Bai, have begun eating it more regularly, with it now appearing in local markets (Wang et al., 2001).

Learn More

References

  • Blett, T., Geiser, L., Porter, E., U.S. Department of the Interior, & U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2003). Air Pollution-Related Lichen Monitoring in National Parks, Forests, and Refuges: Guidelines for Studies Intended for Regulatory and Management Purposes. In NPS History (NPS D2292). Retrieved June 10, 2024, from http://www.npshistory.com/publications/air-quality/lichen-studies.pdf

  • Crawford, S. D. (2019). Lichens used in traditional medicine. Lichen secondary metabolites: bioactive properties and pharmaceutical potential, 31-97. [Link]

  • Rodriguez, C. M., Bennett, J. P., & Johnson, C. J. (2012). Lichens: unexpected anti-prion agents?. Prion, 6(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.4161/pri.6.1.17414 [Link]

  • Wang, L.-S., Narui, T., Harada, H., Culberson, C. F., & Culberson, W. L. (2001). Ethnic Uses of Lichens in Yunnan, China. The Bryologist, 104(3), 345–349. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3244767 [Jstor Free Access Guide]

Disclaimer: Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.

Thomas Young
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