140 Transactions of the [Sess. 



thoroughly investigated, since 1869, by those patient workers, the 

 German botanists, and the results of their observations can readily be 

 learnt by any who have a liking for that particular kind of study. 

 When we know more regarding the growth of the embryonic Lyco- 

 podium, we shall be better able to compare the two in this respect. 

 One point, however, is clearly evident from the remarks already 

 made — viz., that with something of similarity, there is yet enough of 

 diversity between the two genera to warrant their separation. Yet 

 we find growers and others frequently confounding the two, and 

 indeed speaking and writing of both sections as " Lycopodiums." In 

 some botanical works, also, where we should have expected greater 

 accuracy, the same indefiniteness of statement may still be noted. 



In examining the thirty different forms of greenhouse Selaginellee 

 exhibited, it will at once be admitted that many of them are very 

 beautiful, rivalling Ferns in their graceful form and habit. Among 

 these, there is at least one species which calls for special remark. 

 This is S. lepidophylla, so called from the curious scale-like markings 

 on the stem and leaves. It is a native of South America, and is a 

 rather rare plant in cultivation. From the hygroscopic properties 

 it possesses, it has been popularly named the " resurrection plant." 

 All that is needed to revive it is immersion in water, when the ball- 

 like mass it assumes in the dried state soon begins to swell out, and 

 the leaf-shoots to unroll. The specimen shown is believed to be 

 about fifty years old, and still retains its reanimating powers, as 

 may be proved by ocular demonstration. 



Like the Lycopods, Selaginellas are found in many parts of the 

 globe, especially the warmer countries, as Mexico, Jamaica, the East 

 Indies, South America including Brazil, and Japan. 



Turning now to the second part of our subject — the ancient repre- 

 sentatives of the Lycopodiaceae — a panorama of vast forests in the 

 world's youth, crowded with giant forms, is called up before the 

 mental vision. In these forests there grew not only Lycopodiaceous 

 plants, but also, and chiefly, Ferns, both herbaceous and arborescent, 

 with Equisetace^, Coniferse, &c. If mere bulk is considered, the flora 

 which reached its greatest perfection in the Carboniferous era, existing 

 for a period of time to which Ave can only apply the word " seons," was 

 certainly the grandest that ever flourished on our continent. And 

 what shall we say of the flora of N'orth America, concerning which it 

 has been estimated that the older coal-deposits of the l!^ew "World are 

 " twenty times as great as all those of all Europe put together " ! ■"■ 

 But we are at present interested only in the Lycopodiacete, represented 

 at that period by the well-known Lepidodendron or " scale-tree," by 

 Lepidophloios or " scale-bark," and by other allied genera. Of Lepi- 



1 Hugh Miller's 'Testimony of the Rocks,' Lect. III.,—" The Two Records, 

 Mosaic and Geological." 



