A FEW COMMON LICHENS 



Probably this is the ^'red cup moss" of which Mrs. 

 Hemans speaks in the following Unes: 



'^Oh! green is the turf where my brothers play 

 Through the long, bright hours of the summer day; 

 They find the red cup 



moss where they 



climb, 

 And they chase the bee 



o'er the scented 



th}Tiie." 



The Dog Lichen. 



A plant found ever}^- 



where in North America 



is the common dog lichen. 



When in a moist growing 



state it is of a brownish-green color; if dried, it becomes a 



light brown or ashy tint. The leaves are much wrinkled . 



Notice the reddish nail- 

 like fruit vessels that grow 

 out from the edges of the 

 leaves; also the small fi- 

 bers given off from the 

 under side. These catch 

 into the soil and hold the 

 plant in place. 



The name ^^dog lich- 



A Lichen of the Parmelia Family. ^n " waS given it bccauSe 



(See page 130.) of its use as a medicine. 



129 



