Anaptychia

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Anaptychia spp.
[“Fringe lichens”]

FOLK NAMES: Chharila [but name generally applied to Parmotrema chinense, Parmotrema perforatum, and Everniastrum cirrhatum] (India)

USES:   Medicine (India)

Chharila is the name of a widely used lichen crude drug in India that is generally applied to Parmotrema chinense, Parmotrema perforatum, and Everniastrum cirrhatum. However, analysis of Chharila by Chandra and Singh (1971) showed that over 50% of the drug was actually other lichens, one of which is Anaptychia spp. For information on Chharila SEE: Parmotrema chinense.

Anaptychia species contain no lichen substances (Brodo et al. 2001).

Anaptychia ciliaris
[syn. Physcia ciliaris]

NOTE:   Not found in North America

USES:   Alcohol (Sweden, northern Europe, northern Russia)

Anaptychia ciliaris has been used to make brandy in northern Europe and northern Russia. This process was most commonly used with Cladina rangiferina, but several other lichen species have been used. SEE: Making Brandy from Lichen under Cladina rangiferina.

Anaptychia species contain no lichen substances (Brodo et al. 2001).