31 



and subsequently the increase in the size of the thallus does 

 not alter much for years. 



The interest attaching to these humble organisms would 

 be much greater if it were known what an important place 

 they occupy in human economy. Thus the Laplander 

 entirely depends upon the crop of Lichens to feed his rein- 

 deer, and to supply many other wants. Claclo7iia rarigiferina 

 forms the only food of the reindeer during the winter 

 months. The surface of the soil is carpeted with it in Lap- 

 land, just as in the table lands of many parts of South. 

 Tasmania. I have seen the ground covered with a thick 

 growth of Cladonia retiporci several inches in height. 

 Another beard-like Lichen, TJsnea florid a, is gathered largely 

 in N. America, to be stored as winter fodder for the cattle. 

 The well-known Iceland moss, Cetraria Islandica, is a Lichen. 

 It is still extensively used as a restorative in exhaustive 

 diseases. Without it the Icelanders could not live. It is to 

 them what wheat and oats are to the European. Several 

 other sj^ecies of Lichen are esculent, and there are few which 

 might not be used to stave off starvation in the bush. 



In medicine. Lichens have been most extensively employed, 

 though not so much in repute now as formerly. The bitter 

 principle made them esteemed as febrifuges, and their astrin- 

 gent qualities recommended them as styptics and tonics. It 

 is, however, to be borne in mind that most of their medicinal 

 qualities are more to be attributed to the tree on which they 

 grow than to themselves, because the Lichen, which has 

 certain qualities when growing on a tree, does not possess 

 them when growing on a rock or other different surface. 



There are many other medicinal and domestic uses for 

 Lichens, but I pass on to that which constitutes their greatest 

 value, and that is the possession of colors which make them 

 of use to the dyer. It is not generally known that the 

 original colors of the Highland tartan were derived from dyes 

 produced by the Lichen. The colors were prepared by boil- 

 ing the thallus in water along with other ingredients, such 

 as heather, twigs, birch-leaves, the roots of the nettle, and 

 other common plants. The twist was soaked in the liquor, 

 and by this means dyes of brilliant and lasting tints of red, 

 yellow, green, blue, or black, in varying shades, were 

 obtained. By a combination of the threads in weaving, the 

 well-known tartan was produced. The best and most useful 

 of the native dye Lichens is the cudbear, so called after Mr. 

 Cuthbert, who first brought it into use. The species is 

 known as Lecanora tartarea. 1 am not aware that the species 

 is found in Australia, though we have a few of the genus. 

 The dye is quite equal to any orchin, and is capable of being 



