Dyeing with Lichens in Orkney and Spain

摘要

On the 1 March 2006 I set up a collection of three plastic-lidded jam jars. One held a lichen whose identity I was unsure about and two contained Xanthoria parietina. This is a common, bright yellow lichen which likes to grow on walls, rocks, and old roofs. Bits of it blow off here in Stronsay (the northern isle in the Orkney archipelago) during strong winds and gales, which I then collect and dry. Even though this lichen is abundant on the island my preferred method of collecting is via these windfall 'gifts', as it seems a shame to waste such opportunities. Karen Leigh Casselman in her book Craft of the Dyer, Colour from Plants and Lichens, pp. 164-172, reminds me that if I leave undisturbed a good 90% of growth at any one site when gathering other species this will assure the lichen community's continuity. This is, of course, good practice and common sense for all who collect from nature. The aim of putting Xanthoria parietina in jars was to try the fermentation method of extracting dye from this particular lichen.