io8 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



mon with nearly all its tribe, is not able to 

 live on inorganic material ; it must have its 

 food prepared for it by some green plant. 

 Hence it has captured a whole host of algae, 

 mere specks of green life which are abimdant 

 everywhere. Encirchng these tiny plants in 

 its embrace, the fungus lives upon the food 

 products which they are able to manufacture 

 from the sun and air. We must not, how- 

 ever, waste any pity on the httle captives, for 

 in their enslaved condition it seems that they 

 are quite happy. Indeed, they generally bestir 

 themselves with greater activity than is the 

 case when they lead an independent existence. 

 As a matter of fact, the alliance is not entirely 

 one-sided, for although the fungus may be 

 described as a parasite, yet it gives a return for 

 the favours which it exacts. The algae, in 

 common with all plants, require a certain 

 amount of mineral matter, and it seems that 

 the fungus element in the lichen has the power 

 of breaking up the elements in the rock over 

 which the plant may be spreading, and pre- 

 senting these to the captives. As well there 

 is no doubt that the chief partner of the alh- 

 ance plays a big part in collecting and con- 



