reindeer moss

n. Any of several erect, grayish, branching lichens of the genus Cladonia of Arctic and boreal regions, especially C. rangiferina, constituting the chief source of food for reindeer. Also called reindeer lichen.

reindeer moss

n (Plants) any of various lichens of the genus Cladonia, esp C. rangiferina, which occur in arctic and subarctic regions, providing food for reindeer

rein′deer moss`

n. any of several lichens of the genus Cladonia, esp. the gray, many-branched C. rangiferina, of arctic and subarctic regions. [1745–55]

Thesaurus

Noun

reindeer moss - an erect greyish branching lichen of Arctic and even some north temperate regions constituting the chief food for reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humansarctic moss, Cladonia rangiferina, reindeer lichenlichen - any thallophytic plant of the division Lichenes; occur as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks or rocks or bare ground etc.Cladonia, genus Cladonia - type genus of Cladoniaceae; lichens characterized by a crustose thallus and capitate fruiting bodies borne on simple or branched podetia

reindeer moss

reindeer moss:

see lichenlichen
, usually slow-growing organism of simple structure, composed of fungi (see Fungi) and photosynthetic green algae or cyanobacteria living together in a symbiotic relationship and resulting in a structure that resembles neither constituent.
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Reindeer Moss

any lichen of the genus Cladonia, including C. rangiferina, C. alpestris, and C. sylvatica. Sometimes only the first species is called reindeer moss. Because of their bushy, heavily branched layers, the lichens are occasionally separated into the genus Cladina. It provides good fodder for reindeer. Some species contain usnic acid, which has antibiotic properties.

reindeer moss

noun

Synonyms for reindeer moss

noun an erect greyish branching lichen of Arctic and even some north temperate regions constituting the chief food for reindeer and caribou and sometimes being eaten by humans

Synonyms

arctic moss
Cladonia rangiferina
reindeer lichen

Related Words

lichen
Cladonia
genus Cladonia