1898 —1902. No. 21.] LICHENS. 5 
as a rule. Therefore we find them near mosses or actually growing 
over them. I would like to state that the fruticulose lichens are not 
represented by many species in arctic regions but that they cover a very 
extensive area and thus form a very important feature in the vegetation. 
I cannot say how important they are to the animals of those parts of 
the world. Fries mentions, on the authority of Capt. Fretpen that the 
musk-ox at any rate never feeds on lichens at all. 
In some places we get the bare earth covered by crustaceous lichens 
and a very common plant-society is represented by the species Lecanora 
epibryon, Rinodina turfacea, Aspicilia verrucosa and one or two 
other kinds. Pertusaria subobducens is frequent on bare earth. 
Placodium splendens, one of the new species, growing over bare 
soil must with its striking orange colour form quite a conspicuous ob- 
ject in the landscape. It shows at any rate that lichens in the arctic 
area are in a healthy condition and that for them the conditions are 
not all adverse. Very noticeable is the absence from the “Fram”-ma- 
terial of the reindeermoss, but its absence is also commented upon by 
Fries in his account of the lichens of the English Polar Expedition. 
When we turn to the lichens growing on stones we again find that 
the cold of the north has no deterrent effect. Almost every stone which 
is exposed for atleast part of the time has its coat of lichens. Species 
of Gyrophora are of frequent occurrence and they are often found 
together with Parmelia lanata, one of the commonest of arctic rock- 
lichens. We very commonly find Rhizocarpon geographicum and ge- 
minatum associated with Sporastatia testudinea. The intervals between 
the larger crustaceous lichens being covered more or less by numerous 
other kinds, amongst which some of the species of Aspicilia are often 
met with. From what I have seen of Placodium elegans I would say 
that this plant is a rapid grower comparatively speaking. I say this 
because it is so often found on stones which are otherwise bare. This 
seems to indicate that this particular plant has established itself more 
quickly than any other lichen. 
Among the larger fruticose lichens the occurrence of apothecia is 
very unusual, whereas these organs of reproduction are of common oc- 
currence with the simpler crustaceous lichens. The soredia do not play 
any part in the distribution of lichens in the arctic region. Vegetative 
reproduction of the very simplest kind seems to be the chief method by 
which the larger lichens increase in number. 
