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Lichen

LICHEN
Li"chen, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: One of a class of cellular, flowerless plants, (technically
called Lichenes), having no distinction of leaf and stem, usually of
scaly, expanded, frond-like forms, but sometimes erect or pendulous
and variously branched. They derive their nourishment from the air,
and generate by means of spores. The species are very widely
distributed, and form irregular spots or patches, usually of a
greenish or yellowish color, upon rocks, trees, and various bodies,
to which they adhere with great tenacity. They are often improperly
called rock moss or tree moss.

Note: A favorite modern theory of lichens (called after its inventor
the Schwendener hypothesis), is that they are not autonomous plants,
but that they consist of ascigerous fungi, parasitic on algæ. Each
lichen is composed of white filaments and green, or greenish, rounded
cells, and it is argued that the two are of different nature, the one
living at the expense of the other. See Hyphæ, and Gonidia.
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LICHENED
Li"chened, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or covered with, lichens. Tennyson.

LICHENIC
Li*chen"ic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, lichens. Lichenic acid.
(a) An organic acid, C14H24O3 obtained from Iceland moss. (b) An old
name of fumaric acid.

LICHENIFORM
Li*chen"i*form, a.

Defn: Having the form of a lichen.

LICHENIN
Li"chen*in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A substance isomeric with starch, extracted from several
species of moss and lichen, esp. from Iceland moss.

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