I38 REPORT ON THE LICHENS OF EPPING FOREST.
inclined to believe that the increase in the number of houses at
Epping and Loughton has had little adverse effect.
Although little over a quarter of a century has elapsed since
the date of Crombie's paper, it appears desirable, considering the
greater interest that is now being aroused concerning lichens, that
a list should be commenced of those still to be found in the
Forest area. To make this list with any completeness, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the decrease in the number of
species is still going on, or whether there are already signs
of recovery, a systematic survey of the Forest from end to end
will be necessary. Such a survey has been commenced and,
during the past twelve months, has been carried on quite
regularly. It is the result of this first season's work that we now
wish to bring before the notice of the Club.
The lichens collected in the Forest district during the 19th
century amounted to 171 species, varieties, and forms. In
publishing this list, Crombie adds: —"It is evident that many
of the species and varieties formerly gathered are to be expunged
from the present Lichen-flora of the Forest. This may be
estimated at about 85 species and varieties, so that there is a
decrease of rather more than one half of the total number
collected." He goes on to say;—"Nothing in the character of
its Lichen-flora is more striking than that species, which some
eighteen years ago were both general and plentiful, are now to be
seen only here and there in very small quantity; and, not only so,
but, what is still more singular, many of these are seen only in a
sterile or fragmentary condition, presenting often a sickly
appearance, as if they were slowly dying out."
We are now able to report that several species, said by
Crombie to be rare or sterile, are now fairly abundant, and pro-
duce numerous apothecia. Such are Baeomyces rufus, Baeomyces
roseus, Cladonia pyxidata, Cladonia macilenta, var. coronata, Cladonia
floerkiana, f. trachypoda, Lecanora varia, Lecidea decolorans, and
Lecidea tricolor.
The following are widely distributed, but have not been seen
with fruit; —Parmelia physodes, var. labrosa, Parmelia saxatilis,
and Parmelia exasperata.
Lecidea decolorans, described by Crombie as very rare and
seen only in one spot, cannot now be classed as uncommon.
In the higher parts of the Forest, it is abundantly fertile and of