L
ichens are beautiful organisms that
surround us everywhere we go.
Once you start looking for them
you may be surprised at the diversity
and quantity that otherwise blend into
the landscape. Many are sensitive to
air pollution and are therefore more
abundant as you get some distance from
the city. Lichens come in many shapes
and grow on any stable surface such as
rocks, trees and man-made structures.
Each lichen has its own requirements for
air and moisture, which is why you’ll find
different species growing from different
parts of the same tree. Beginning to look
at lichens will open your eyes to another
realm of the natural world.
Not only are lichens fascinating to look
at, but many contain substances that can
be converted to brilliant permanent dyes.
Their historical use in textiles originated
thousands of years ago and came to rise
in several isolated regions. The early
recipes were often vague or guarded and
most have been destroyed or lost. We are
left with relatively modern accounts and
archeological remnants.
The intensity of the colors they
produce rival both natural and synthetic
dyes. Some of the most incredible
colors lichens produce are: neon yellow,
electric magenta, blue-violet, and a pink
that changes to blue in the presence of
sunlight. Many of these colors may not
be visible in the fresh lichen, but are
converted through the extraction process.
An exception to this is the wolf lichen,
Lethariaspp., which dyes fiber exactly the
color of the lichen itself.
In addition to their intense colors, there
are several advantages lichens have over
other natural dyes. Lichen dyes can be
made using simple household ingredients
like water and ammonia. Mineral salts
(also called mordants) are not needed to
get strong colors, and in fact will often
diminish the lichen dye’s natural luster.
Also, there is a simple chemical test that
will reveal the presence of particular dye
substances, helping you to determine the
best route for extraction.
Before you start extracting dyes from
lichens, there are a few things you should
know. I recommend picking up an
introductory book on lichens so that you
can familiarize yourself with some basic
concepts and terminology. Learning the
terms for the stature type and anatomical