_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.