black moss
"Black moss" can refer to different dark-colored plant materials, including mosses, algae, and lichens, used in various contexts from cuisine to botany.
Definition
B2Chinese Cuisine
(culinary, cultural)A type of terrestrial cyanobacterium, Nostoc flagelliforme, used in Chinese dishes for its hair-like appearance and neutral taste.
Example
- Black moss is often added to festive dishes during Chinese New Year for its symbolic meaning of prosperity.
- The soup contained black moss, giving it a unique texture.
C1Botany
(scientific, general)Various species of dark-colored mosses, including those from the genera Grimmia, Andreaea, Syntrichia, and Cinclidotus.
Example
- The forest floor was covered in black moss, creating a lush, dark carpet.
- Researchers are studying different types of black moss to understand their ecological roles.
C1Botany
(scientific, general)Tillandsia usneoides, a flowering plant known as Spanish moss, particularly when dried for use in stuffing and decoration.
Example
- Spanish moss, often referred to as black moss when dried, is commonly used in floral arrangements.
- The old oak tree was draped in black moss, giving it a mysterious look.
C1North American Indigenous Cuisine
(cultural, culinary)Bryoria fremontii, a lichen eaten by Indigenous Peoples in North America.
Example
- Black moss was a traditional food source for many Indigenous communities.
- The preparation of black moss lichen is an important cultural practice.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "black moss":
fire mossmoss greenhair mossmoss phloxmossy saxifragemoss rosesea mossblack mudleaf moldoak fernmarsh grassalgal matblack alderhog grasssea cabbage