REPORT ON THE LICHENS OF EPPING FOREST. I39
general occurrence in suitable localities, as in Great and Little
Monk Woods, Oak Hill, near the "Wake Arms," and about
Loughton Camp. Lecidea tricolor extends over a large area.
This species is described as growing "On trees by the roadside
beyond 'King's Oak,' where it was formerly very fine and
abundant, but is now scarcely to be seen except in a sper-
mogoniferous condition." It can again be said to be well
developed, abundant, and fertile. Baeomyces rufus, said to be
usually sterile, is luxuriant and fertile near the "Wake Arms,"
and at Blackweir Hill.
Other examples might be given, which will appear in our list.
The above-mentioned instances go to prove that some, at least, of
the Forest Lichens are in a far more healthy and fertile condition
than they were 27 years ago.
We draw attention to the fact that some of the species just
alluded to are ground or heath forms. This brings us to one of
the most striking features of the Lichen-flora of the Forest, as it
now exists:—The Cladoniei, with brilliant red apothecia, as
Cladonia macilenta, f. coronata, Nyl., and Cladonia floerkiana, may be
readily found, while forms of Cladonia pyxidata in fruit are by no
means rare. The thinning of the trees, which reduced the num-
ber of those that flourish on tree trunks, has tended to produce a
healthier and more fertile condition among the ground and
heath forms.
On tree trunks, we find many of the genera that were
enumerated in the list of 1883. The genus Parmelia is the most
abundant, followed closely by Pertusaria and Lecanora. There is
every reason to believe that Parmelia physodes, which was found
"about High Beach, also sparingly in other localities," has
spread to a very great extent. It is now found on trunks in all
parts of the Forest that we have examined; and, although the
individual plants are sometimes small, they appear to be
generally in a healthy condition. Parmelia saxatilis, "seen only
sparingly and poorly developed," is almost as abundant as the
one just mentioned.
We know that the growth of lichens is slow—extremely
slow in some cases; yet the stumps, still firm, not rotting yet, at
Oak Hill are covered with Parmelia physodes, P. saxatilis, and
P. exasperata. This points to the fact that some of the forms
have extended their range within recent years. As a further