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.
2. Lichenes fruticulosi.
Such as consist of a tough flexible matter, formed into ramifications, in some species almost simple, in others resembling small shrubs: in some of the species the branches are quite solid, in others tubular.
This order comprehends the third of Dillenius’s genus of coralloides; the whole cladonia of Hill; the second, and several species of the third order of Haller’s lichens; several species of the fifth, and the whole sixth, order of Micheli; and the lichenes fruticulosi of Linnæus.
The plants of this genus grow principally upon the ground on heaths, forests, and mountainous barren places; except the orcelle, or Canary-weed, which is found upon the rocks on the sea-coast.
To this division belongs the horned moss[83]. It is found with us in rocky barren ground, and upon old walls not uncommon. It was formerly in great credit as a pectoral; but is now quite in disrepute.
The common branched coralline-moss[84] is one of the most useful plants of all the tribe of lichens. It is pretty frequent with us on our heaths, forests, and mountains. The northern regions afford it in abundance; and there it is peculiarly and singularly useful. It is indeed the very support and foundation of all the Lapland œconomy, and without which the inhabitants could not sustain their rein-deer in the winter time. Linnæus tells us[85], that Lapland affords no vegetables in such plenty as this, and other of the lichens. Plains of several miles extent are totally covered over with it, as if with snow; and where no other plant will even take root, this will thrive and be luxuriant. These dreary and inclement wastes, these terræ damnatæ, as a foreigner would readily call them; these, are the Lapland fields and fertile pastures. On this lichen the rein-deer, those sources of all their wealth, feed in the winter time, when it is in its most flourishing condition, and no other vegetable is to be had: with this too they will even become fat. The riches of the Laplanders consist in their number of these cattle: they are cloathed with their skins, fed with their flesh, and from their milk they make both butter and cheese. Nature, by the inclemency of their seasons, has almost denied them the cultivation of their earth: they neither sow nor reap; but live a perpetual migratory life, tending their flocks of rein-deer, upon which their whole care is centered and employed.
The milk of the rein-deer is very remarkably fat and rich: it tastes indeed like cow’s milk, with which some butter, and a small quantity of fat or suet, has been intimately united. Dr. Haller[86] suspects, that this richness of the milk is owing to the animals feeding upon this moss. Most of the plants of this family are of an astringent quality, which indeed they manifest to the taste. This astringency of their food will doubtless contribute much to that effect.
The rein-deer are not the only animals that will feed upon the coralline moss. The Novaccolæ[87] gather vast quantities of it to fodder their oxen with in the winter. They take the opportunity of raking it together in the rainy seasons, when it is tough; for in dry weather it easily crumbles into powder. This they moisten with a little water in the winter season when they use it, and find it excellent fodder.