Josselyn Botanical Society 



21 



The majority of the lichens are known to contain starch in 

 more or less appreciable quantities, but fungi do not develop 

 such. It is debatable whether Buellia parmeliarum gives a 

 starchy reaction with reagents. Personally I have never 

 obtained a convincing reaction. Other workers claim to have 

 observed a definite change in color on application of iodine 

 to the hymenium. A good argument for fungal affinity is 

 found in the definite "shoe-sole" shape of many, or in some 

 all of the spores of a dissection. There are many parasitic 

 things of unquestionable lichenose affinities that superficially 

 resemble Buellia parmeliarum, and which in a minor way 

 deform the thallus of their hosts. 



The fence beneath our tree was a common affair of boards 

 nailed to posts, and conspicuously bore three plants. The 

 first of these was Physcia pulverulenta leucoleiptes of the 

 neighboring tree, but in a curiously depressed form not easily 

 identifiable. Lecanora subfusca chlarona was abundant and 

 fine, and tiny patches of the orange-red apothecia of Calo- 

 placa pyracea saprophila were everywhere. In addition to the 

 foregoing, Buellia disiformis, Lecidea melancheima, Bacidia 

 luteola, Pertusaria com?nunis and Parmelia subaurifera were 

 observed in limited patches, bringing the census of our tree 

 and fence to twenty- two species. By going a mile further 

 from home on a subsequent ramble, a tree was found on which 

 were counted thirty-eight lichens. The examination of this 

 tree consumed three hours, but the time was well spent. 

 Give the inertia system of collecting a trial, friends, and then 

 compare results with those of your usual Marathon methods. 



