JOSSELYN BOTANICAL SOCIETY 



19 



the inhabitants on the vast areas of ''reindeer moss" and other 

 lichens for their very existence, for such furnish the rein- 

 deer's food. The narrative informs us : "The reindeer not 

 only supplies the Laplander with milk (from which no less 

 than nineteen different dishes are prepared) and flesh, but 

 its skin supplies clothes, beds, bags, purses and a variety of 

 domestic articles too numerous to mention." Another writer, 

 in speaking of Cetraria Islandica, or the "Iceland moss", 

 mentions that it is collected in great quantities throughout 

 the northern countries, dried and pulverized and made into 

 a palatable bread, pottage and various other dishes. Thus it 

 may be seen that humble lichens play a part of the greatest 

 importance in certain lands, and permit of the persistence 

 and political integrity of entire natious. 



Other species of lichens have proved of worth in their 

 direct ability to sustain life. Lecanora esculenta and Lecanora 

 affinis, found in northern Africa and in the desert regions 

 persisting from that part of the world eastwardly through 

 Arabia and northeasterly to Tartary, may be mentioned. It 

 is said that these plants have at various times and places 

 appeared suddenly (it is asserted by the inhabitants from 

 the heavens) and covered with a layer from three to six inches 

 thick large areas of the country. In times of scarcity the 

 inhabitants have imitated their domestic animals and con- 

 verted them into food. These so-called showers have been 

 designated by the recipients as "manna", and certain specu- 

 lative writers have endeavored to correlate such with the 

 "manna" supplied to the children of Israel while journeying 

 in the wilderness. This "manna" is usually found in the 

 form of small lumps, from the size of a pinhead to that of a 

 pea. or small nut. Analysis reveals an enormous percentage 

 of oxalate of lime in its composition and no starch. Persist- 

 ence in the use of such a food must have only an unhappy 

 effect. "Manna" showers falling in the Crimea afforded on 

 analysis of individual lumps a normal percentage of starch, 

 and sheep would eat it with avidity and no evil consequences. 

 We have no "manna" in America, but a larger and coarser 

 plant of the arid bad lands of some of the States bordering 

 • the Rocky Mountains to the east, is always free, and is known 



