Umbilicaria esculenta

Umbilicaria esculenta
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Lecanoromycetes
Order:	Umbilicariales
Family:	Umbilicariaceae
Genus:	Umbilicaria
Species:	U. esculenta
Binomial name
	Umbilicaria esculenta; (Miyoshi) Minks (1900)
Synonyms
	Gyrophora esculenta Miyoshi (1893);

Umbilicaria esculenta, the rock tripe or Iwa-take, is a lichen of the genus Umbilicaria that grows on rocks.

Morphology

Two different types of polysaccharides are known to be the structural components, both a heteroglycan from the fungus and a glucan from the alga.^[1] U. esculenta lichens have a thallus attached to the substrate with a central holdfast.^[2] The thallus is also heteromerous (parts that are different in quality and number) and fully corticated (has a cortex and bark). Many of the Umbilicaria species are characterized by a veined or rugose thalline surface.^[2]

Ecology

Umbilicaria esculenta is a saxicolous lichen; it grows on rocks and is known widely as the "rock tripe". It is usually found on at high altitude in East Asia.^[3]

Human uses

U. esculenta is considered a delicacy in China, Korea, and Japan where it is eaten in dishes, soups, or in salads.^[4]

It has been used as starvation food by Native Americans and early settlers.^[4]

Gallery

Iwatake gathering at Kumano in Kishū, by Hiroshige II
Korean pan-fried Umbilicaria esculenta

References

^ Sone, Y., Isoda-Johmura, M., & Misaki, A. (1996). Isolation and chemical characterization of polysaccharides from Iwatake, Gyrophora esculenta Miyoshi. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 60(2), 213-215.
^ ^a ^b Watson, R. R. (n.d.). Polyphenols in plants isolation, purification and extract preparation. Academic press, an imprint of Elsevier.
^ Sun, Yanhong, et al. “The Polysaccharide Extracted from Umbilicaria Esculenta Inhibits Proliferation of Melanoma Cells through ROS-Activated Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway.” Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 1 Jan. 2018, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/41/1/41_b17-00562/_html/-char/ja.
^ ^a ^b Zhao, Y., Wang, M., & Xu, B. (2021). A comprehensive review on secondary metabolites and health-promoting effects of edible lichen. Journal of Functional Foods, 80, 104283

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[:0-1] Sone, Y., Isoda-Johmura, M., & Misaki, A. (1996). Isolation and chemical characterization of polysaccharides from Iwatake, Gyrophora esculenta Miyoshi. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 60(2), 213-215.

[:1-2] Watson, R. R. (n.d.). Polyphenols in plants isolation, purification and extract preparation. Academic press, an imprint of Elsevier.

[:2-3] Sun, Yanhong, et al. “The Polysaccharide Extracted from Umbilicaria Esculenta Inhibits Proliferation of Melanoma Cells through ROS-Activated Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway.” Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 1 Jan. 2018, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/41/1/41_b17-00562/_html/-char/ja.

[:3-4] Zhao, Y., Wang, M., & Xu, B. (2021). A comprehensive review on secondary metabolites and health-promoting effects of edible lichen. Journal of Functional Foods, 80, 104283

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