Local Name
Pimpa (Svan.), khis jagari (Svan.) [1], khis khavsi (Tush.) [3], pich’vis khavsi (Tush.) [4]
Description
Thallus fruticose, ascending, much branched in all directions, with dense tubercles and long fibrils on the surface; usually lacking soralia. Medulla made up of rather tough fungal tissue. Apothecia always present, mostly on tips of thallus branches, 4-10 mm diam., with long hairs on margins.
Habitat
On tree bark.
Distribution
Apkhazeti, Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Imereti, Kartli, Mtiuleti, Trialeti, Meskheti [5].
Uses
Svaneti – “It grows on conifers, and was most frequently used by hunters when they stayed at caves, they spread it on the ground and used as bed because it keeps warmth. Svans call it “ts’its’viani khis jagari” (conifer tree bristles) or “pimpous”, which in Georgian means “a man with dense hear and beard”; it was used particularly by hunters to light fire for warmth in cold winters” [1]; “Grows on trees, looks like beard. We use it to start fire, as it lights well. In winter while we are in forest, or in rainy and cold weather, we light it; it burns well and produces pleasant smell” [2]. Tusheti – “We use tree moss (khis khavsi) as a dye, it gives golden-yellow colour” [3]; „It’s a pine moss (“pich’vis lhavsi”) used in textile dying, the moss gives greenish colour“[4].
References
- … 2014. …, Mestia. 2. Gulbani, I. 2014. Vill. Dutsi, Mestia. 3. Melaidze, K., Ichirauli, N. 2014. Vill. Alvani, Akhmeta. 4. Bakhturidze, Ts. 2014. … 5. Nakhutsrishvili, I.G., et al. 1986. Flora of Spore-producing Plants of Georgia (Summary). Metsniereba, Tbilisi.