lichen of the genus Umbilicaria, sometimes used as emergency food by soldiers or explorers. It contains about one-third more calories than equal amounts of honey, corn flakes, or hominy; however, this lichen cannot seriously be considered as a food crop because of its slow growth rate. Rock tripe was boiled by Washington's troops at Valley Forge. In Japan U. esculenta, called iwa-take, or rock mushroom, is sold as a delicacy and eaten in salads or fried in deep fat. Species of rock tripe are also used as dyes.
ROCK TRIPE
Meaning of ROCK TRIPE in English
Britannica English vocabulary. Английский словарь Британика. 2012