Page 211 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Rock Tripe, Umbilicaria spp.

(UMBILICARIACEAE)

Paul Morris, CC-BY-SA-2.0

ROCK TRIPE is a family of 65 foliose lichens that pressed to the lichen’s upper surface.
grow over the surfaces of rocks, boulders, and cliff
EDIBLE PARTS: entire lichen
faces. Large and leathery, they thrive in moist, shad-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: U. esculenta has been used in
ed areas including forests. In North America, these
Chinese medicine to treat bleeding, inflammation, and
lichens are distributed from Canada to Mexico. Two
prevalent species are Smooth Rock Tripe, U. mam- poisoning. It exhibits anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and anti-
thrombotic activities.
mulata, and Frosted Rock Tripe, U. americana. In
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: All rock tripe is con-
East Asia, Stone Ear Mushroom, U. esculenta, is a
sidered edible. Once leached (see “Iceland Moss” for
much-loved delicacy.
instructions), they can be cooked as a vegetable, fried,
PHYSICAL FEATURES: Rock tripe is thick, flattened,
or simmered in soups and stews.
and leathery with a spreading, indefinite form. Rang-
ROCK TRIPE SALAD: Ingredients: Rock Tripe
ing from 1-8 inches (2.5-20cm) wide, it is attached to
(leached, rehydrated), garlic (diced), fresh chili pep-
its substrate from a naval-like center. Its upper surface
pers (finely chopped), Chinese black vinegar, light
may be brown, grey, olive green, or orange-brown,
soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil. Simmer Rock Tripe for
often with brittle margins. Its lower surface is deep
30 min. Drain, rinse and let cool. Combine other in-
brown or black, with tiny dark hairs called rhizines.
gredients in a bowl until sugar dissolves. Mix in rock
Some rock tripe varieties are smooth; others are
tripe. Cover and let marinate for 30 min. Garnish with
wrinkled, crumpled, covered in small bumps, or pit-
chopped scallions.
ted with cell-like cavities. Still others are covered with
white powdery granules called pruina, which give WARNING: Contains strong acids; do not eat before
them a frosted appearance. leaching first. People with ulcers should avoid. Con-
sume in small quantities. Avoid during pregnancy and
REPRODUCTIVE FEATURES: Apothecia are common
breastfeeding.
in some species and rare in others. They are dark and
disc-shaped. Some are raised, others are tightly ap- POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: See chapter Warning
210