PARMELIA. 



201 



steeping the Lichen in stale urine,, adding a little salt, and 

 subsequently giving the mass consistency and a ball-form by 

 mixing with lime. Pennant affirms that it formed an impor- 

 tant article of commerce in Scotland in 1772, selling at 

 Is. to Is. 4<d. per stone ; and Dr. Walker lauds its red dye 

 as of peculiar permanence, uninjured by exposure, and un- 

 affected by acids, alkalis, or alcohol, — "a most singular 

 property," as he truly observes (were it true), "as there is 

 no red dye in use that remains unaltered by these powerful 

 agents." These statements are unquestionably either exag- 

 gerated or unfounded. 



10. Parmelia conspersa {cofispergo, to besprinkle) . Thal- 

 lus membranaceous-cartilaginous, greenish-yellow or straw- 

 coloured, polished, frequently black-punctate or sorediife- 

 rous, — below brownish and black-flbrillose ; primary lacinias 

 sinuate-rot undate-lobate, secondary linear-lacinulate (deve- 

 loped frequently from or upon the primary). Apothecia 

 chestnut-coloured, frequently confluent or crowded, some- 

 times abortive. (E. B. 2097.) 



A comparatively common species, growing on walls and 

 rocks, especially quartzose, in lowland and highland districts ; 

 it is frequently abundantly fertile. Nowhere have we found 

 it so plentiful, and its fructification in such perfection, as 



