The thallus of Letharia vulpina
There are two recognized species (as of 2005) in the genus Letharia (the wolf lichens), and both can be found in western North America. This particular lichen was found growing at the trunk base of a Pinus ponderosa near Merritt, British Columbia.
Wolf lichens are so named because of their common use as poisons for wolves and foxes in Europe centuries ago. The lichen, with its toxic vulpinic acid, was mixed with ground glass and meat, apparently a deadly combination.
The lichen was also used as a source for making a yellow-coloured dye, which is not difficult to imagine.
My dog died 18 hours after eating a small amount of this lichen. Beware.
I’d like to point out that this is one of the few lichens that was actually recognized by Linnaeus. He named it “Lichen vulpinus.”
Thanks Susanne – I didn’t know that re: the synonymy.
The ground glass seems a bit silly. See http://www.snopes.com/horrors/poison/glass.htm for why.
Perhaps so, although I’ve seen dogs simply gulp down food without chewing… Noted, though, that it does seem silly.
Has any one tried growing this moss? Such a slow growing fungus, needing undisturbed rotted wood? I have difficulty finding it as well…
Cool… I think I’ve seen this around but it says here that it’s found in North America. I’m in American Samoa. Is it possible that I saw this lichen down here?
Not really – it’s far more likely to be something different. The worldwide distribution of Letharia vulpina seems to be restricted to the Northern Hemisphere.
The ground glass probably helped to speed the poison to the blood stream, rather than waiting for it to pass through the digestive system.
I’ve tasted this stuff, it is bitter. It grows all over in Montana.