Lichen Dye

This is Lobaria pulmonaria ,  common name lungwort.  An easy to use dye plant, just simmer it in soft water (rain water will do )  and you will get a very dark brown.  Safe to use in your kitchen,  needs no mordant.  It was used as a cure for lung disease as the back of the plant resembles a lung.  At this time of the year the winter storms blow if off the trees and I gather it up.   It is slow growing and needs unpolluted air to grow and so needs to be gathered with care.
The photos show a bucket of gathered lichen drying and two of it growing in the woods.
At this time of the year I gather the lichen that is storm blown for use later