GP^OIvOGY OF LA SAIvLE COUNTY. 



123 



and preserving- other plants apply to these also, but 

 the rock-borers must be taken with a piece of the rock 

 attached, which can be accomplished with a cold chisel 

 and hammer. 



SOME OF THE DIVISIONS AND ORGANS OF I.ICHENS. 



Without ^oing into an exhaustive discussion of 

 these — a subject for advanced students and specialists 

 — we will only mention some prominent features. As 

 now understood in the United States, and as elucidated 

 by Prof. Tuckerman, the father of the science here, 

 our lichens fall into two series — the open and closed — 

 fruit series, known as GYMNOCARPI and ANGIO- 

 CARPI. Then, we have a division into five tribes, all 

 represented in Iva Salle county. Next come families, 

 g-enera and species, but the convenience or fancy 

 of authors has ag-ain subdivided many of the g-enera 

 and species, and often without reason, which has added 

 much to the synonomy as well as to the bewilderment 

 of succeeding- authors and students. Europeans ar 

 especially noted for this, but it is easy to see how far 

 an honest enthusiasm will carry one in the study of 

 nature's wonderful works. 



Of late new view^s have been announced as to the 

 orig-in and relations of lichens to other orders of plants 

 which may upset long- cherished theories of some emi- 

 nent Europeans and of our own Tuckerman. But 

 science will be the g-ainer by w^hatever controversies 

 have or may occur, whoever is hurt, and it is w^itli 

 some satisfaction that we mention here the name of 

 Dr. Albert Schneider, a son of Illinois, native of Gran- 

 ville, Putnam county, as one not likely to be daunted 

 by the shadows of g-reat names in the assertion of his 

 view^s. 



