A FEW COMMON LICHENS 



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

 Hemans speaks in the following lines: 



"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 



thyme." 



The Dog Lichen. 



A plant found every- 

 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- 

 en " was given it because 

 of its use as a medicine. 



A Lichen of the Parmelia Family. 



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