ABSTRACT
Description: Various lichens belonging to the class Cryptogamia; they grow under cool, damp conditions on the trunks and branches of trees, such as oak and „r. The lichens are used to prepare resinoids and concrete and absolute essences for a total yearly consumption of approximately 70 tons. E. prunastri, the true oak moss, grows on the trunks and branches of oak trees. Like all ascolichens, the moss reproduces by fragmentation of soredia and grows by symbiosis yielding an erect, bushy, vegetative form. Other related lichen-E. furfuracea and Usnea barbata-that grow on spruces and „rs are known by the more generic name of “tree moss.” Oak moss derivatives are light green and exhibit a rich odor, while tree moss derivatives have a grayish-green color and a slight resinous odor. E. prunastri yields the most valuable extraction products, while other tree mosses yield products of inferior quality. Oak moss is harvested mainly in France, the former Yugoslavia, Italy, Morocco and Hungary. The harvested moss is pressed into bails and shipped to the extractive sites. The part used is the lichen. Oak moss has a delicate, pleasant, green, moss-like odor.
