154 



POPULAR HISTORY OF LICHENS. 



erect, by dichotomous division sinuate-laciniate, margins 

 connivent, ciliate-spinulose ; apothecia chestnut-coloured, 

 terminal or subterminal, usually affixed anteriorly to broad- 

 ened, shortened, rounded lobules, having a thalline, entire or 

 crenulate margin. 



In the common variety the sterile lacinise are sublinear 

 and channeled : the laciniae are sometimes very broad, flat- 

 tened or waved, with naked or crisped edges. 



This species, the familiar " Iceland Moss," is essentially 

 alpine and subalpine in its habitat, growing abundantly on 

 the ground on most of our higher Highland mountains, as 

 well as more sparingly on the Lammermuirs, Pentlands, 

 and other mountain-ranges of minor elevation. It is how- 

 ever seldom or never found in the fertile state in British 

 specimens, or in the commercial Lichen, which is chiefly 

 imported from Norway. It developes its fructification only 

 on very high mountains or in very cold regions, for it has 

 a comparatively wide range in Arctic and Antarctic cli- 

 mates ; its fruit may be seen in Mougeot and JNestler's valu- 

 able collection of Vosges Cryptogams published some years 

 ago (' Stirpes Cryptogamicse Vogeso-Ehenauae Its ver- 

 tical range on the Scotch hills and mountains varies from 

 1500 to 4000 feet ; it thus descends to a comparatively low 



