— 6i— 



Lobaria, etc. Specimens that were alike, but collected at dififerent times, or from 

 different localities, were given the same number, but were distinguished from each 

 other by different letters, for example, 69, 69a, 69b, etc. 1 could then keep track 

 of the number of different species collected with the greatest ease, and took de- 

 light in the way this number increased. Each day that I went out, I brought home 

 my collecting bag filled with specimens, many times, too, with almost as much 

 additional material wrapped up in newspaper. In the short stay of six weeks 

 about 200 different species of Lichens were collected. As my collecting ground 

 was limited to the immediate vicinity of Cinchona, to Morce's Gap, to Vinegar 

 Hill Road, to New Haven Gap, to Green River, to Clydesdale, to Latimer River, 

 distant from two to six miles from Cinchona, and, was even further confined to 

 areas along the trails, one may surmise, from the number of species mentioned, 

 that the region is an especially rich one in Lichens. This, however, is not to be 

 wondered at. It probably would be hard to find a place more favorably situated 

 for Lichen growth. According to Shreve,^ Cinchona has an annual mean tem- 

 perature of 60.8° F., (an absolute maximum of 80°, in August, and an absolute 

 minimum of 46", in January); it has 105.7 inches of rainfall in a year,^ (the mini- 

 mum amount falling in July, 3.80 inches, the maximum amount in October, 17.91 

 inches). But besides the abundant rainfall, the mountain sides are bathed al- 

 most daily with mists. It is to them that many species owe their luxuriant 

 growth. However, one must not get the idea, that there is here uniformity of 

 conditions that tend to make for a sameness and which would probably become 

 tircvsome. Far from it, there are areas far more varied than can be found in most 

 places of similar extent, ranging from treeless mountain slopes, strewn with rock, 

 hardly supporting any vegetation, to mountain sides covered with impenetrable 

 jungle. Here are all sorts of light conditions, and, likewise all sorts of moisture 

 conditions, from most intensely xerophytic to very hygrophytic. Having the 

 opportunity, thus, to study the Lichens, in such varied habitats, one soon has it 

 brought home to him that Lichens are rather the children of light than the chil- 

 dren of moisture; they are found on the dry barren hillsides, in the intensest sun- 

 light, but rarely in the deeper shadow of the moist jungles. The ideal situations, 

 are, of course, where there is a fair supply of light, and, at the same time, a liberal 

 supply of moisture, as may be found along the trails through the forested areas. 

 Here one finds Lichens galore, but here, one finds also Hepatics and Mosses in 

 equal abundance. Every available inch of space is covered, and that too, 

 whether it be the ground, rocky ledges, or even the tree-trunks themselves. What 

 keen competition! The slightest advantage that a plant may have over another, 

 is seized to the divSadvantage, and final extinction of its competitor. In this 

 struggle, seen on all sides in the ideal localities, the Lichens, by no means play 

 the losing hand. Everywhere one sees that many are well able to take care of 

 themselves. Sticta and Leptogium species, especially, spread their thalli with 

 the least unconcern over Hepatics and Mosses, which finally succumb, their small 



3 Shreve, A Montane Rain-Forest. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Publication No. 199. 

 * Shreve. Ibid. p. 11, & p. 15. 



