Parmotrema perlatum
Illustration of P. perlatum (bottom) and two other Parmelia species
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Parmeliaceae
Genus: Parmotrema
Species:
P. perlatum
Binomial name
Parmotrema perlatum
(Huds.) M.Choisy (1952)
Synonyms
  • Lichen perlatus Huds. (1762)
  • Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach. (1803)[1]

Parmotrema perlatum, commonly known as black stone flower, is a species of lichen used as a spice in India. The species occurs throughout the temperate Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Typically used in meat dishes like nihari (paaya), Bombay biryani, and goat meat stews, it is also used in vegetarian dishes.

In its raw state, black stone flower does not have much taste or fragrance. However, when put in contact with heat, especially hot cooking oil or ghee, it releases a distinctive earthy, smoky flavour and aroma. This property of black stone flower is especially valued in the tempering step of cooking a number of Indian dishes.[2][3][4]

P. perlatum

Some of the other names for it include shaileyam in Sanskrit, kalpasi in Tamil, dagar da phool in Punjabi, dagad phool in Marathi, raathi Pootha (banda puvvu) in Telugu, kallu hoovu in Kannada and patthar ke phool in Hindi, bojhwar and chadila in North India.[2]

Dried black stone flower ready for use

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parmotrema perlatum.
  1. ↑ Hale ME. (1961). "The typification of Parmelia perlata (Huds.) Ach". Brittonia. 13 (4): 361–367. doi:10.2307/2805414. JSTOR 2805414. S2CID 1506244.
  2. 1 2 "Food Secrets: 14 Unusual Indian Spices You're Probably Not Using but Definitely Should Try". The Better India. 2016-08-31. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  3. ↑ Ratnani, Vicky (2014-04-26). "Magic of Stone Flower". DNA India. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  4. ↑ Manmadhan, Prema (2011-05-18). "Karaikudi comes calling". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-06-20.


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