HUMBLE FAMILIES IN GRAY. l8l 



fine, granulated ash-green thallus that resembles 

 mould, and from it grow myriads of tiny balloon- 

 shaped stipes crowned with light-pink or flesh- 

 colored fruit heads, giving the whole a pretty 

 effect in delicate hues. It is a good illustration 

 of Nature's watchfulness and the prompt way she 

 has of veiling the naked earth. She likes to con- 

 ceal the blemishes on her face. Even this spot of 

 gravel dirt she considered an ugly freckle, and so 

 readily enough invented a lichen mantle, with its 

 broidery and beads, as a temporary covering. 



As the rambler becomes interested in the vari- 

 ous species in this low order of plants, he is 

 impressed with the plan and appearance of their 

 fruit-cases — apothecia. The apothecium is the 

 culminating, crowning point of the lichen, as the 

 rose is the superlative glory of the bush. It is 

 the anticipation or forerunner of the corolla of the 

 higher plants. As the inventor at first may 

 devise some comparatively clumsy implement, and 

 afterward improve his work, so Flora, it would 

 seem, from the mere fruit receptacle of the lichen, 

 at last evolved for us and the honey gatherers the 

 flowers, with stores of nectar and thousands of 

 beautiful designs. See the bits of color she has 

 from the first put into these fruit-cases, as if for 

 some reason it were a point especially to be 

 looked after ! In the most instances they are dif- 

 ferent from, and brighter than the thallus, over 



