Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758. / Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.

by Various; Royal Society

1. Lichenes filamentosi.

Such as consist of mere solid filaments, of a firm and solid but flexible texture, having the appearance of fructification in the form of scutellæ, or flat round bodies growing from the sides or extremities of these filaments.

This order or division comprehends the hairy tree-mosses, or usnea of Dillenius and Hill; several of the species of the fifth order of lichens of Micheli; and the lichenes filamentosi of Linnæus.

Dr. Dillenius describes sixteen species under the term usnea, several of which are found in England, tho’ some of them, as the common usnea of the shops, but very sparingly, and none of them in any considerable plenty. The thick woods in many other parts of Europe, and the rest of the globe, afford them in great plenty. They hang from the branches of various kinds of trees, like large tufts of hair, to a considerable length: some species grow several feet long. The rocks on the tops of high mountains afford several kinds. They are of various colours; some whitish, ash-coloured, others grey or blackish, and two or three species have a yellow or orange hue.

The commentators in general agreed in making the bryon of[65] Dioscorides one of these hairy tree-mosses, which they called usnea. No wonder, therefore, that at the restoration of letters it became a matter of controversy, which of them was the usnea of the ancients. Dioscorides recommends his as an astringent; and tells us, that “the best grew upon the cedar; but that from whatever tree it was gathered, the whitest and most fragrant was preferable to the black.” The several usneæ would undoubtedly in different countries be found upon different trees. In Italy, that of the larch-tree was the most odoriferous; and on that account Matthiolus[66] preferred it to all others. That kind, which at length obtained a place in the shops as the usnea of the ancients, was a species commonly found in our countries on old oaks and other trees, and is called by Dillenius[67] stringy tree-moss, or usnea of the shops. Many excellent virtues have been ascribed to it, on a supposition of its being the true usnea; but it does not appear to have deserved them: and the present practice, at least in England, has quite expunged it, and that perhaps very justly.

Dr. Dillenius is evidently of opinion however, that this common usnea, tho’ it obtained a place in the shops as such, is not the bryon of Dioscorides and Pliny, or the phaseon of Theophrastus, since he has applied these names from those fathers of botany to another species, which he calls the beard usnea[68]. Nor does either of these species appear to be the true usnea of the Arabians, whatever title they may seem to have to it, either from their colour or smell. Bellonius, as he is quoted by Dr. Dillenius, tells us, “that the true usnea, or bryon, as he calls it, is sold at Constantinople under the name of usnech; and tells us we are deceived in believing ours to be the true usnea.” Dillenius has therefore described another species[69], which he received from the East Indies, from Madagascar, and St. Helen’s, as the Usnea Arabum. This plant the Indians call saliaga; and Camelli assures us, that, while fresh, it has a very fragrant musk-smell. He adds, that he had himself experienced what Serapio says of it; viz. that a vinous infusion of it restrains fluxes, stops vomiting, strengthens the stomach, and induces sleep.

The common usnea of the shops was said to be the basis of that fine perfumed powder, which the French called corps de cypre gris, and which formerly made a great article of trade at Montpelier. Dr. Brown hints[70], that the perfumers use it still; but he does not add, where. John Bauhine gives us the whole process[71] for making that power, which was vended in great quantities to all parts of France. It is nevertheless true, that other of the lichens had as great a share in the competition as the usnea; as the demand for that powder could not have been answered, if the makers had confined themselves to the usnea alone. It was necessary too, inasmuch as other species are equally well adapted to the same uses[72].

This usnea is abundantly plentiful in the woods of Lapland; and Linnæus[73] relates, that the inhabitants apply it to their feet, when they are sore and excoriated with much walking. The benefit they receive from it in this case is undoubtedly owing to its styptic quality, which is remarked by Matthiolus, and by Mr. Ray[74] from the German Ephemerides.

The beard usnea before mentioned, which is abundantly common upon the trees both in the northern regions of Europe and America, as well as in the eastern kingdoms, and is described by Mr. Ray as hanging to the length of two feet, the filaments of which are not thicker than a common thread, and of a greenish white colour, is used by the inhabitants of Pensylvania to dye an orange colour with. This information Dillenius received from Mr. Bartram.

The black mane usnea, which grows in vast quantities in the Lapland woods, in a defect of the common coralline moss makes part of the fodder, and is equally acceptable to the rein-deer in the winter time[75].

The long beaded usnea, or necklace-moss[76], enters into the like œconomical uses in Virginia, where it is very plentiful. The inhabitants find it a very agreeable fodder in the winter season to both sheep and cows[77].

The Norwegians appropriate one of these usnea to a singular use. Pontoppidan tells us[78], “they have a certain kind of yellow moss hanging on the branches of trees of the firs and pines, which is very venomous, yet applied to a necessary use; for being mixed in pottage, or with flesh, as a bait for the wolves, they infallibly die of it.” That the species here referred to is the brass-wired usnea of Dillenius[79], or the lichen vulpinus of Linnæus, cannot be doubted, since this last author mentions[80] the same application of it with very little variation. In England it is very rare; in Sweden plentiful, especially in the province of Smoland, where the natives dye woollen goods yellow with it.

John Bauhine describes a very beautiful species, under the name of laricus muscus[81], which gives a very elegant citron colour upon chewing, or upon maceration in water. Dillenius is doubtful, whether this is what he has described under the name of the orange-coloured forked usnea[82].

We may here observe by the bye, that the usnea cranii humani, which thro’ the influence of superstition formerly obtained a place in the catalogues of the materia medica, does not belong to this division of the lichens. The writers of those times distinguished two kinds of usnea humana, under the names of crustacea and villosa. Any of the crustaceous lichens, but more properly the common grey-blue pitted lichenoides of Dillenius, was used for the former of these; and, as Dale tells us, was held in most esteem. The villosa was a species of the genus of hypnum. Indeed it does not appear, that they were in those days very curious in determining the exact kind; and doubtless any moss, which happened to grow upon an human skull, was sufficient for the purposes designed.