286 LISTER : HERBALS AND ANCIENT BOOKS ON BOTANY.
the loss of bright colour when the light-intensity decreases.
Lichens growing on the edge of a rock, fully exposed to the direct
rays of the sun, can often be found growing over the edge into
the shade. In these cases, there is a distinct loss of colour;
the plant looks less healthy, and it sometimes becomes more
or less powdery, or leprous.
If one knows the trees of a wood thoroughly well, it is no
uncommon thing to find trunks hitherto covered with patches
of Parmelia physodes, P. saxatilis, P. sulcata, or P. caperata
in a healthy state suddenly alter in appearance, with the lichen
changed to a dull colour or completely shrivelled. In the case of
P. physodes, it will be found that some enemy, probably a small
beetle, has completely eaten away the gonidial layer, and so
thoroughly has this been done that not a vestige of green can be
found. Neighbouring trees are sometimes denuded of this lichen
in a very short period, possibly in no more than a few days.
A LIST OF HERBALS AND ANCIENT BOOKS
ON BOTANY EXHIBITED AT A MEETING OF
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB, 27 OCTOBER 1917;
WITH NOTES FROM MRS. ARBER'S "HERBALS."
compiled by the president.
The Latin Herbarius.
NO title page. Leaf 2 has MS. note '' Paris, 1485," and begins
[R]ogatu plurimo[rum] . . ." Leaf a.1 begins
'Absintheum, Aluyne.'
Small 4to. The last thirty-six pages have scarlet initial
letters to the paragraphs, inserted by hand.
The book consists chiefly of a list of medicinal plants with
their virtues, arranged in alphabetical order. They are illus-
trated by bold and decorative, if somewhat crude, woodcuts,
which were probably copies of pictures in much older manu-
scripts. The first edition of this work was printed at Maintz
in 1484. It is anonymous, and is a compilation from certain
classical and Arabian authors ; none are quoted of a later date
than 1350.
[Lent by Miss Willmott]
The German Herbarius.
Title : "In disen Buch 1st der Herbary : oder kreuterbuch :