170 Rhodora [Juny 
especial interest in distinguishing this species from other much- 
branched ones. According to my observation, in all club mosses 
except L. flabelliforme the ends of all branches and stems are growing 
points, are tipped with buds. The end of each season's growth is 
marked by a joint, the position of which in some species L. annotinum 
and L. clavatum for examples is very noticeable. In L. complanatum 
the leaves being very minute the axis is practically naked and, mark- 
ing the end of each season's growth, there is plainly shown a sharp 
constriction resembling the separation of the thorax and abdomen 
of a wasp, and each year's growth resembles an elongated sausage. 
The growth of L. flabelliforme is entirely upward, that is it does not 
increase laterally. Its growth consists of an annual elongation of 
the stem of about 13 inches (3 to 5 em.) which, a short distance (4 to 
1 em.) below the top of the terminal bud, sends out two branches 
which fork and re-fork from five to seven times and result in giving 
a striking resemblance to a funnel or tunnel with its sides rising at an 
angle of 30? from a perpendicular, the slant height of the inverted 
cone being 11 to 2 inches (3 to 5 em.). A branch or a part of a branch 
when flattened has the appearance of a fan, the fact being that it is 
funnel-form in the field and flabelliforme in the herbarium. Growth 
from the ends of these branchlets rarely takes place indicating that 
they are commonly either destitute of buds or that the buds are 
dormant and the plant grows (except in rare instances) only by a 
succession of funnel-bearing increases of stems, the funnels completed 
(except rarely) the first season. 
This feature in the structure of this species can be finely shown by 
comparing L. tristachyum or L. obscurum with L. flabelliforme in the 
field when the new growth is appearing or is just grown, or by com- 
paring them in the herbarium if secured at this time. If they are 
exposed to the sun or dry air when secured the new growth soon wilts 
and the former two will be covered with a wilted fringe, while the 
latter shows no wilting except the upmost story which will wilt be- 
yond recognition. 
L. complanatum makes an annual upward growth according to the 
same general plan as L. flabelliforme which plan however is obscured 
in the manner of its carrying out. 'The stem additions are more 
slender, zigzag, the terminal bud less conspicuous, while the pair of 
branches are at first very small though unlike L. flabelliforme they 
increase by lateral forking for two or three years. 
