LICHENS 



often gives it to Ji patient who is reeovering from a 

 severe illness. 



The powder looks very much like starch, and, like 

 it, swells in boiling water. When cooled it l)ecomes 

 a fine, jell3dike substance which is pleasant to the taste, 

 especially when sweetened and flavored. 



LICHENS AS DYESTUFFS 



Does it not seem strange that some of our most 

 beautiful shades of red, violet, and yellow should be 



obtained from the simple little 

 lichens that cover the rocks? 



The plants that grow in such 

 places contain the best coloring 

 matter. 



The orchil gives a beautiful 

 purple color. A man of Flor- 

 ence, Italy, claims to have dis- 

 ^,, ., ,.,,,., , , . , , covered in the sixteenth centurv 



iheOrcliil (A Hu.shv Lichen). 



the art of preparing dye from the 

 orchil. In a short time he made a large fortune. The 

 secret was discovered, and the manufacture was carried 

 to Ilohaiid, where quite a trade in this lichen is still 

 carried on. It is believed by some that the use of the 

 orchil was known b}^ the people of ancient Greece. 

 In temperate climates the orchil is found in small 



126 



