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Aspicilia esculenta

(Pall.) Flagey

Manna lichen

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(c) Мария Ткаченко, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Мария Ткаченко

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(c) Aleksandr Popov / Александр Попов, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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Description

A lichen in the Megasporaceae family found in Mediterranean climate regions, historically notable as a potential source of Biblical manna.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The lichen is ground and mixed with meal to make bread, or fermented with honey.

Traditional Uses

The lichen is ground and then mixed with meal to make bread. It is also fermented with honey.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Algeria, Asia, Iran, Middle East, North Africa,

Notes

Some people suggest this may have been the Biblical manna.

Synonyms

Lecanora esculenta

References (2)

  • Crum, F., 1993, A lichenologists's view of lichen manna. Contribution to the University of Michigan Herbarium 19: p 296
  • www.lichen.com/usetype.html