Rock tripe is the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

for various

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship.genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

such as New England and the Rocky Mountains. They are edible when properly prepared; soaking extensively and boiling with changes of water removes the bitterness and purgative properties. They have been used as a famine food in extreme cases when other food sources were unavailable, as by early American northern explorers. '' Umbilicaria esculenta'' is commonly used as a food in Asian cuisine and a restorative medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. It is called ''shi'er'' (石耳 "rock ear") in Chinese cuisine, ''iwatake'' (岩茸 "rock mushroom") in Japanese cuisine, and ''seogi'' (석이(石耳)) or ''seogibeoseot'' (석이버섯) in

Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...

Species

*'' Umbilicaria americana'' *''

Umbilicaria antarctica Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Rocky ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria aprina'' *'' Umbilicaria arctica'' *'' Umbilicaria bigleri'' *'' Umbilicaria crustulosa'' *'' Umbilicaria cylindrica'' *'' Umbilicaria daliensis'' *'' Umbilicaria decussata'' *'' Umbilicaria deusta'' *'' Umbilicaria dura'' – North America *'' Umbilicaria esculenta'' *'' Umbilicaria hirsuta'' *'' Umbilicaria hispanica'' *''

Umbilicaria hyperborea ''Umbilicaria hyperborea'', commonly known as blistered rock tripe, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is widely distributed in arctic and alpine regions. Taxonomy It was first described as a new species by Swedish ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria iberica'' *'' Umbilicaria isidiosa'' *''

Umbilicaria maculata ''Umbilicaria maculata'' is a species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) umbilicate lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae. It is found in high-elevation alpine locations in Poland and France. Taxonomy ''Umbilicaria maculata'' was formally described ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria mammulata'' *'' Umbilicaria meizospora'' – Europe *'' Umbilicaria muhlenbergii'' *'' Umbilicaria multistrata'' – North America *'' Umbilicaria murihikuana'' *'' Umbilicaria nodulospora'' *'' Umbilicaria nylanderiana'' *'' Umbilicaria orientalis'' – East Asia *''

Umbilicaria phaea ''Umbilicaria phaea'' is a brown, umbilicate foliose lichen that grows up to in diameter, sometimes in colonies covering large patches of desert rocks.Field Guide to California Lichens, Stephen Sharnoff, Yale University Press, 2014, Lichen Fl ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria polyphylla'' *''

Umbilicaria polyrrhiza Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Ro ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria proboscidea'' *'' Umbilicaria propagulifera'' *'' Umbilicaria pulvinaria'' *''

Umbilicaria rhizinata Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Rocky ...

'' *''

Umbilicaria rigida Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Ro ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria robusta'' *''

Umbilicaria sinorientalis Rock tripe is the common name for various lichens of the genus ''Umbilicaria'' that grow on rocks. They are widely distributed, including on bare rock in Antarctica, and throughout northern parts of North America such as New England and the Ro ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria spodochroa'' *'' Umbilicaria subglabra'' *'' Umbilicaria torrefacta'' *''

Umbilicaria vellea ''Umbilicaria vellea'' is a species of lichen in the genus '' Umbilicaria''. It is sometimes called navel lichen. It is found in North America and Europe in alpine and arctic habitats. It is similar to the species '' Umbilicaria americana'', w ...

'' *'' Umbilicaria virginis'' *'' Umbilicaria xizangensis''

Gallery

Image:Korean_pan_fried_mushrooms.jpg, Rock Tripe ( seogi) with pine nuts File:Tripes de Roche.jpg, Lichens of the type eaten by John Franklin's men on their journey back from the Coppermine River Image:Hiroshige II - Kishu kumano iwatake tori - Shokoku meisho hyakkei.jpg, ''Kishū kumano iwatake tori'' (" Iwatake mushroom gathering at Kumano in Kishu") by Hiroshige II Image:Umbilicaria_havaasii_Sotlav.jpg, '' Umbilicaria havaasii''

References

Lichens {{Lecanoromycetes-stub