LICHENS 



Then they seem to delight in moist and stormy weather, 

 and put forth their spores so that we may have new 

 plants. 



Lichens grow nearly everywhere on the globe. In 

 the Arctic region they form the largest part of the plant 

 life. Beyond their limits there is no vegetation. 



"But here, above, around, below, 



On mountain or in glen, 

 Nor tree, nor shrub, nor plant, nor flower, 

 Nor aught of vegetative power, 



The weary eye may ken. 

 For all is rocks at random thrown, 

 Black waves, bare crags, and banks of stone; 

 As if were here denied 



The summer's sun, the spring's sweet dew, 



That clothe with many a varied hue 

 The bleakest mountain side." 



In some countries lichens provide food for man and 

 beast. Several kinds are used for dyestuffs. Quite 

 a large part of the oxalic acid of the world comes from 

 the tiny lichens. They are also employed in the mak- 

 ing of perfumery because they retain odors for so long 

 a time. 



There are between two and three thousand lichens 

 already known in different parts of the world. 



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