72 ROMANCE OF LOW LIFE AMONGST PLANTS. 



it."^ And on one occasion it is remarked that the 

 party had no other food for eleven days. Dr. Lindsay 

 states that species of Unihilicaria or Gyrophora are 

 frequently eaten in periods of scarcity in Iceland, as 

 a supplement to the more nutritious " Iceland Moss." 

 He adds that their nutritive properties depend on 

 the presence of a large amount of starchy matter, 

 and that, when boiled, they yield a firm nutrient jelly, 

 accompanied by a bitter principle which is possessed 

 of purgative properties. 



Reference has been made quite recently to an 

 edible lichen not far removed from those which 

 furnish the Tripe de Roche, but we fear that the 

 glowing eulogy is an exaggeration. The statement 

 is as follows : " Endocarpon miniatiim, which is found 

 in many of the United States, is also found in Japan 

 and Cuba, two widely diverse localities. It inhabits 

 calcareous rocks, and may easily be mistaken for 

 Umbilicaria, two species of which it resembles. Mr. 

 Minakata, who is a distinguished scholar and 

 naturalist, and who has lately spent two years in 

 the United States in study and travel, has informed 

 the writer that large quantities are collected in the 

 mountains of Japan for culinary purposes, and largely 

 exported to China as an article of luxury. He ex- 

 pressed surprise that no attention was paid to it in 

 America. The name by which it is known in Japan 

 is hvataka, meaning 'stone mushroom.' Properly 

 treated it resembles tripe." ^ 



This latter lichen is also found in Britain, in low- 



' "Journals," p. 445. 



^ Trof. W. W, Calkins, in Bi^laiikal Gazelle {\Z(i2\\-o\, xvii. p. 41S, 



