262 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Lichens continued. 



consist of slender branches, and are attached by one 

 point only ; (4) Gelatinous, so called from the nature of 

 their substance when moist. Lichens are reproduced by 

 spores, borne, generally, eight together, in club-shaped 

 filaments (asci), which are found in large numbers, 

 together with hairs (paraphyses), in external receptacles. 

 In addition to these, other receptacles are formed. 

 called spermagonia, which contain filaments (sterigmata) , 

 bearing short rod-like bodies (spermatia). Similar cavi- 

 ties bear larger spore-like bodies, called pyenidia, whose 

 precise nature, as well as that of the spermatia, is not 

 known. A second method of reproduction is by soredia, 

 which consists of one or more gonidia, surrounded by 

 hyphae. The whole, or only a part, of the Lichen thallus 

 can thus be converted into a powdery mass. The exact 

 relation of the hyphse to the gonidia is still disputed. 

 Some writers assert that the gonidia are produced by 

 the hyphae; others (of whom Schwendener was the 

 leader) say that the gonidia are Algae, upon which fungi 

 (the hyphse) are growing parasitically. This differs from 

 parasitism in general, inasmuch as the host is not de- 

 stroyed, but seems to profit by the union. Many Lichens 

 furnish excellent dyes, e.g., Roccella tinctoria, from which 

 litmus is obtained. Clqdonia rangiferina supplies the 

 reindeer with food. Lichens are, in some cases, useful as 

 food or medicine e.g., Iceland Moss (Catraria islandica), 

 but their principal value consists in their properties 

 as dyes. Lecanora esculenta is frequently met with in 

 immense quantities in the most arid, desert regions of Asia 

 and North Africa ; it occurs in rounded masses about the 

 size of a filbert, and is largely used as food. It possesses, 

 too, a peculiar interest, on account of its being supposed, 

 by some commentators, to be the " manna " which fed the 

 children of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness. | 

 " Lichens are not parasitic ; but when they clothe trees | 

 they impede the circulation of air, and hasten decay. 

 They further intercept light when enveloping young 

 shoots, and interfere with the development of cambium 

 and the evolution of the foliage " (Hooker). 



LICHTENSTEINIA. A synonym of Ornitho- 

 glossnm (which see). 



LICUALA (from its native name in the Moluccas). : 

 SYN. Pericycla. OBD. Palmce. A genus comprising I 

 about thirty species of dwarf stove palms, natives of 

 Eastern tropical Asia, the Malayan Archipelago, New 

 Guinea, and Northern Australia. Flower-spikes branch- 

 ing, with numerous incomplete spathes. Leaves terminal, 

 fan-shaped, with prickly stalks, the prickles being conical, 

 or often hooked. The species thrive in a compost of 

 two parts peat and one of sandy loam. A strong, moist 

 heat is most essential to success. Propagated by seeds, 

 sown in a sandy soil, and placed in a strong, moist, 

 bottom heat. 



L. acutiflda (sharply-divided). This species yields the walking- 

 sticks known by the name of Penang Lawyers. It is a native of 

 Pulo Penang, where it grows to a height of about 5ft., its stems 

 being about lin. in diameter, excep 



considerably thicker. 



cept at the base, where they are 



L. elegans (elegant).* I fan-shaped, split down to the petiole ; 

 segments plaited, prsemorse at the ends, about lift, long, light 

 shining green ; petiole 2ft. to 3ft. long. Sumatra. 



I*, grandls (great).* A. iin. long ; spadices several, rising from 

 among the leaves, and nearly as long as they are ; spathes at base 

 of panicles, two or more, 2in. to Sin. long, lanceolate, acute, 

 brown, striated. February. I. about twenty in the crown, deep 

 bright green ; petiole 2*ft. to 3ft. long, slender, spiny ; blade 3ft 

 in diameter, about 2ft. long, orbicular or semi-orbicular, concave 

 closely plaited, and a little wavy ; margins cleft into bind lobes, 

 about 1m. long ; lobules of the lobes very obtuse. Trunk 3ift. to 

 base of leaves, lOin. in circumference, h. 6ft. New Britain 

 (B. M. 6704.) SYN. Pritchardia yrandis. 



L. horrida (horrid). I. dark green, fan-shaped, large, plaited ; 

 petioles stout, armed at the edges with very stout, formidable I 

 spines. Indian Archipelago. A handsome species, resembling ' 

 L. elegans. 



L. peltate (peltate). /. obovate. I. digitately fan-shaped, 

 peltate; leaflets long, cuneated, many-nerved, middle one 



Licuala continued. 



broadest, sharply bifid and toothed ; petioles prickly on margins. 



A. 15ft. Indiaf 

 L. Kumphli (Rumph's). I. palmate ; segments linear, toothed, 



truncate at end. Stem spiny, h. 6ft. Moluccas, Borneo, 1802. 



SYN. L. spinosa. 

 L. spinosa (spiny). A synonym of L. Kumphii. 



LIEBIGTA. Now included under Chirita. 



LIETZIA (named after A. Lietze, a nurseryman at 

 Rio Janeiro). OBD. Gesneracea. A remarkable and 

 handsome stove tuberous-rooted plant. Corolla tubular, 

 campanulate, widely gaping; upper lip erect, lower one 

 somewhat uneven and obscurely lobed. The species re- 

 quires a well-drained compost of light fibrous loam, leaf 

 mould, and sand. Propagated by seeds, sown in early 

 spring, in heat; by cuttings, inserted in sand, under a 

 glass, in bottom heat ; or by tubers, which must be kept 

 dry in winter, and potted in March. 



FIG. 406. LIETZIA BRASILIENSIS, showing Habit, and detached Leaf 

 (reduced), Flower, and Capsule, with its persistent Calyx 

 (natural size). 



L. brasiliensis (Brazilian). /. green, richly mottled with 

 brown ; stamens much exserted ; racemes terminal, many-flowered. 

 I. hairy, lanceolate, tapering to both ends, opposite, serrated. 

 h. 1ft to lift. Brazil, 1880. See Fig. 406. (E. G. 1005.) 



LIEVENA. A synonym of Quesnelia (which see). 



LIGATURES. In nearly all the methods of budding 

 and grafting, a Ligature, or bandage, is necessary for keep- 

 ing the bud or scion firmly on the stock, and preserving 

 the separated tissues from the action of the atmosphere, 

 which otherwise would soon have an injurious effect. 

 The sort of Ligature, and its strength, depend a good 

 deal on what it has to bind. When stocks are large, 

 and possibly grafted on a system requiring splitting, the 

 Ligature must be strong, and bound tightly; but when 

 the bark only is raised, a pressure sufficient to keep the 

 parts slightly compressed will be enough. Various sub- 

 stances are used for Ligatures, the best being those 

 which expand and contract least under the influence of 

 changeable weather, and also allow of an expansion in 

 the stock without cutting or injuring it. Woollen thread 

 answers well on small stocks, either for budding or graft- 

 ing. A good Ligature for bandaging large stocks is lime- 

 tree bark, as prepared for manufacturing ropes. It should 

 be dipped in water, and then divided out ; but no material 

 of this description should be twisted before being used. 

 Ordinary Eussian mats are very serviceable, as the softer 

 parts of them answer the purpose equally as well for 

 many plants as a more expensive material. A Ligature 

 should be carefully applied with both hands, so soon as 

 possible after the graft or bud is inserted. It should be 



