CRYPTOGAMIA. ALGAL Lichen. 
47 
Jacq. Coll. iv. 8. 1— E. Bot. 1330. E.)—Dill. 28. Ill —Hoffm. Lich. 9. 
1— Woodv. 205— FI. Dan . 155— Blackw. 599— Giseke 50— Mich. 44. 
4— Buxb. ii. 6. 1. 
Saucers circular, very entire, placed on the leaf. Linn. Crowded, con¬ 
nected, ascending, varying greatly in shape and size. Leaves often 
several inches high, cut and divided, segments remote, extremities end¬ 
ing in two short blunt horns. Surface smooth, shining, channelled, 
wrinkled, brown or pale green; edges turned in, fringed with stiff 
bristles. Substance membranaceous, soft, not easily torn; horny and 
stiff when dry. Saucers on the ends of the broader lobes, but seldom at 
the extremity of the plant or at the edges ; very large, fringOd, purplish 
brown. Fringe sometimes wanting. Hoffman. 
(Iceland Lichen. Cetraria islandica. Achar. Hook. E.) On the top ofSnow- 
don and Clogwyn y Garnedd in North Wales, and only in small quantities. 
Dill. On many mountains in the Lowlands and Highlands, on the Pent- 
land Hills, on Scrape near New Posso, on Craig-cailleach in Breadalbane. 
Between Bwlch-las and the summit of Snowdon, but not in fruit. 
Generally attached to the Br. hypnoides. Mr. Griffith. (On Cheviot. 
On Muggleswick Fell, and Gateshead Fell, also upon Cronkley, York¬ 
shire. Mr. Winch. E.)* 
Var. 2. Leaves narrower, the edges rolled in, the ends not fringed. 
Dill. 212. 
Dill. 28. 112— Buxb. ii. 6. 2 ; 5, 3 and 4. 
Pale green, whitish underneath. Segments slender, curled. This is the 
plant in its young state when growing under heath or other shrubs. 
Hoffman. 
L. pulmona'rius. Saucers red brown, mostly on the edges of the 
foliage: leaves green, jagged, blunt, smooth; pitted; downy 
underneath. 
Hoffm. Lich. 1.2— (E. Bot. 572. E.)— Gars. 340— Dill. 29. 113— Mich. 45. 
ord. 14— FI. Dan. 1007— Matth. 1039— Lob. Obs. 647. 2. Ic. ii. 248. 1— 
* (The Icelanders boil it in broth, or dry it into cakes, used as bread ; thankfully 
acknowledging that u a bountiful Providence sends them bread out of the very stones.” 
They likewise make gruel of it to mix with milk, and sometimes with coffee; but the 
first decoction is always thrown away, being purgative. The jelly is certainly very 
nutritious, and may be dissolved either in water or milk. The growth of this plant 
is not confined to the northern countries, but has recently been discovered in Spain 
and part of Italy. Britain does not yield sufficient quantities to supply the 
demands of commerce. A Russian has lately obtained a patent for making bread 
of it; and M. Regnault of Paris recommends it to be taken in the form of jelly, 
by boiling six ounces of the Lichen in as many pints of spring water, for an hour or 
more, then evaporating the decoction with the addition of six ounces of refined sugar, to 
the consistence of jelly. This is to be taken in the quantity of three or four ounces or 
more daily. However inadequate this remedy may be for the removal of actual organic 
disease, it has undoubtedly succeeded to a wonderful degree in restoring both old and 
young patients when extremely reduced by that less active form of phthisis, sometimes 
called a decline; and, as a mild tonic and nutritious restorer of impaired digestive powers, 
it is extremely valuable. For such purposes the following is an approved recipe. In¬ 
fuse two ounces of moss in three pints of water; after being warmed over the fire, pour 
off the first water, which will remove an unpleasant bitterness, then add fresh water, 
and boil the three pints down to one quart. A teacup full of this decoction may be 
mixed with milk, and taken three or four times a day. E.) 
