Lembophyllum divulsum. Swamp moss.
Previous names
Previous names
Hypnum clandestinum, Lembophyllum clandestinum
Common names
Fishing and hunting
Used by fowlers to cover a bird-snare, to give it the appearance of a growing branch (Best 1907).
Domestic
Soft mosses used as baby wrappings and as diapers (held in place with a large leaf) (MacDonald 1973).
Environment
Found on bark, roots and rocks, usually in forest. Widespread in New Zealand. ( Beever et al 1992).
Medicinal
"Kohukohu, lichen; which, when reduced to powder, is rubbed into the skin for cutaneous eruptions.(Taylor 1870: 109).
"Kohukohu (common moss which grows on trees). - Dried in the sun, and pounded into dust, then mixed with the "hinu kōhia" oil, it is used as a salve for the itch, scald head and other cutaneous eruptions." Brett's Guide 1883.
Kohukohu, a swamp moss, used as styptic - the leaves were bruised on the hand, applied on the wound and bandaged very lightly. (O'Carroll 1884).
" Kohukohu, a lichen, when dried and reduced to powder is applied to cutaneous eruptions." Kerry-Nicholls 1886)
Dipped in water, applied locally for venereal disease (Best 1906).
Used as napkin for menstruation (Goldie 1904, Best 1905b, Best 1907).
Notes
Lembophyllum divulsum can be mistaken for Weymouthia mollis. W. mollis 'forms soft, pale green to fawn veils hanging from branches and twigs in wet forest' ( Beever, Allison & Child 1992: 119). It is a softer moss than Lembophyllum and can be very abundant. [Jessica Beever, pers com., July 2001]
