L I C H E N atlanticus.
Downy Shrubby Lichen.
CRYPTOGAMIA Alga.
G en. Ch a r . Male, scattered warts.
Female, smooth shields or tubercles, in which the
seeds are imbedded.
Spec. Ch a r . Leafy, branched, tufted and entangled,
grey, downy, linear, channelled underneath ;
branches rigid, divaricated. Shields lateral, fiattish,
black, with a smooth, entire, grey border.
Syn. Lichen intricatus. Desfont. Atlant. 420. t. 258.
ƒ 3 - .
Lichenoides subhirsutum teres, scutellis parvis nigris.
Dill. Muse. 157. t. 2 1 . f 51. Herb. Dill.
* Parmelia atlantica.. Ach. Meth. Suppl. 50.
F IRST found in Britain by Mr. W. Borrer, on elms at
Bracklesham in Selsey island, in April 1 8 0 4 , and by the same
gentleman on cliffs near Hastings, bearing shields in August
1 8 0 5 . We should gladly have called it A. Barren after its
discoverer, who is so peculiarly conversant with Lichens, the
name intricatus being preoccupied, and that which alludes to
its growing on mount Atlas being contrary to the soundest
rules of nomenclature. The synonym of Dillenius, which
no one has suspected, we have ascertained by a specimen
compared at Oxford. Indeed his figure and description are
jnstantly recognised.
The fronds form dense entangled tufts on the branches of
trees or on rocks, aud are of a grey or whitish colour, clothed
with fine short down. Their subdivisions are numerous, divaricated,
linear, channelled beneath. Shields, lateral, sessile,
small, round, with a black disk, at length becoming convex,
and an entire downy border, of the colour and substance of
the frond.
It belongs to the same natural tribe as L. prunastri, fari-
naceus, fuciformis, &c. Micheli is its original discoverer,
who sent it to Sherard, and whose indifferent figure (Gen.
Pi. t. 3 8 , f . 3 .) Dillenius, as usual, takes delight in criticizing.
°