Walking the Land is a regular feature written by Becky Dill, an amateur naturalist, photographer and professional barista at the Paw.
You don’t need to walk the land to see reindeer moss; I know you’ve seen it while driving local roads. It grows into large colonies, covering dry roadbanks under pine trees.
Here are some fun facts about reindeer moss:
• It’s not a moss. It’s a lichen. Which brings us to a dad joke: Why did the fungus and the algae go on a date? They took a lichen to one another.
• Lichens are unique organisms made up of a combination of a fungus and algae.
• More than 50 different bird species use lichen in their nests.
• Reindeer moss burns readily, so you can use it for kindling to start your campfire.
• It’s commercially harvested for use in crafts and the floral trade.
• People in old-timey Sweden used to make liquor from reindeer moss.
• It has no roots. It just sits on top of the ground.
• There are at least five different types of reindeer moss in North Carolina.
• Reindeer really do eat reindeer moss.