LICHEN

small, slow-growing, and long-lived plants, compound organisms of fungi and algwe—mo -like in appearance to the untrained observer—which flourish under conditions that make life impo ible to all other vegetation —in regions of severe eold—on barren rocks and arid mountain ranges—on trees and dead wood—as well as on soil. The varieties and their services are numerous. They convert the rocks into soil, feed the reindeer during the winter months, and furnish dyes of several colors. In times of scarcity they are requisitioned by mankind also as food, the best known of those thus employed being ‘‘Icenanp Mo ’?