Reindeer lichen Cladonia portentosa

Features

The lichen is creamy to pale grayish green in color and richly branched. The twigs spread in all directions and resemble deer antlers. It usually grows on acidic soils, often on peat bogs.

Species	Lišaji
Living space	River edge, Swamp, Wet site
Size

Description

Lichen contains usnic acid, which has antibiotic action. Usnic acid is very effective against gram-positive bacteria - these are the ones that cause tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), food poisoning (staphylococci), intestinal diseases (Enterococcus faecalis and faecium) and pneumonia (pneumonococcus). It can also inactivate individual types of viruses.