biblical legend that when Moses led his people through the wilderness, and all the food reserves were eaten, exhausted people were ready to die of hunger.But suddenly the wind rose and fell on the hot sand gray lumps that hungry people ate raw and cooked porridge of them.And I think that is God, after it manna from heaven.
Russian botanist Palpas proved that the gray lumps, "fallen" from heaven on the heads of the afflicted were lichens, which are found in the deserts of Minor and Central Asia, and Africa.A gust of wind rolled them across the desert, stand B70-degree heat.Fully vysohnuv, when the rain hit again come alive.
structure
lichen lichens appeared on Earth a hundred million years ago.For a long time scientists could not determine this fungus or algae.Until you come to the conclusion that the lichen - a symbiosis of fungus and algae.In structure reindeer moss resembles a tree in miniature: there is a "trunk" - thallus, in all directions from which diverge "branches" - intertwining hyphae of the fungus and algae cells that protect the lichens from damage and drying.There is a kind of "roots" - rhizoids, through which the lichen attach to rocks and soil.The anatomical structure of lichens is:
- gomeomernoe - seaweed scattered throughout lichen;
- heteromeric - algae are thallus and form a separate layer.
reproduction and growth
Lichens can reproduce spores, which produces a fungus or vegetatively: pieces of thalli.The ability to grow in the harshest conditions: in the rocks on the rocks, on poor soils in the sand.They are the first to master the uninhabitable space and create conditions for other organisms.They grow very slowly over the year by about 5 mm.Colours vary from black, white, gray, to bright yellow, orange and red.It is still not clarified the mechanism of generating the color of lichen, obviously only that it is associated with exposure to sunlight.At the slightest atmospheric pollution lichens die because, in contrast to plants, they have no cuticle protective and toxic substances penetrate through the entire surface thereof.
Medicinal properties
Reindeer moss or tsentrariya Icelandic or moss - lichen that grows on the north of Russia.It has long been used by local residents for the treatment of many diseases.Scientists have found that it contains such useful substances to the body, folic acid, acacia, almost all the vitamins, manganese, titanium, iron, iodine, nickel and others.Medicinal properties it possesses, it is difficult to overestimate.Residents of northern moss treat a variety of diseases.For the treatment of cough, stomach ulcers, bowel problems reindeer moss pounded into powder and boiled pudding.It also clears the body of toxins.Reindeer moss is very effective for wounds, boils, ulcers.His wounds were washed broth and lotions do three or four times a day.For the treatment of emphysema reindeer moss is boiled in milk.It is widely used in the home cosmetics for removing age spots and acne.Reindeer moss serves as raw material for tasty jelly, jelly and jelly.
