90 EIGHTEENTH REPORT. 



is \er\ doubtful if such a plant can be found anywhere. Liune does 

 not give the number of ranks in which the leaves are arranged but 

 does say that the leaves are spreading (Folia sparsa attamen 

 variora * '* * " "" * basi decurrentia s. adnata cauli, deni 

 patula). The only reference given by Linnaeus is ''Lycopodioides 

 radiatuni dichotoinuni. Dill. muse. 274, t. 67." Dilleuius' plate 

 shows a plant that has the leaves in four ranks, the upper row 

 being represented as now appressed and now spreading. Evidently 

 the drawing Avas made from a dried plant in which naturally enough, 

 the upper and loAver leaves will most generally appear as appressed. 

 In the living plant the leaves are four ranked on a dorseiventral 

 axis, and ascending Avith incurved tips, none appressed; the free 

 portion of the lateral leaves is about 4i/^ mm. in length; of the 

 upper, about 3% ; and of the lower, 2. The branches are dichoto- 

 mously branched, the branchlets ascending with gracefully spread- 

 ing, recurved tips. Foliage dark green and glossy; perhaps the 

 most graceful and handsome of our Lycopodiums. Fairly well 

 represented by the plate of Dillenius mentioned above. Stems 1 

 or 2 inches below the surface. Spikes 2-3 cm. Although Linnaeus 

 said he had not seen the fructification of this species, yet, on the 

 other hand, the Dilleuian plate referred to by him shows several 

 spikes, most of which are represented with a proliferous tip, a 

 condition very frequentlj^ seen in this species. 



Another form or variety of this species is the plant known as 

 Lycopodium dendroideum, Mx. It differs much in habit; it is 

 dichotomously branched, as in the specific type, but the branchlets 

 are neither dorsiventral nor drooping but terete and erect, the 

 upper being shorter, so that the plant has the exact appearance of 

 a miniature spruce tree. The foliage is less glossy and more of a 

 yellowish green in color, the leaves being of equal length, about 

 31/^ mm., and disposed in 8 ranks; the stems are 2 or 3 inches be- 

 low the surface; the spikes are numerous, sessile, and from 2-5 cm. 

 in length. This will answer very well to Michaux's description. 

 The only reference Michaux gives is Dill. t. 64. The only American 

 species represented on this plate is the Selaginella apoda. Evi- 

 dently Michaux nmde a very poor interpretation of the Dilleuian 

 plate, if he refers to Dill. Mus. t. 64, or else the reference to it 

 is a typographical error, I have no doubt that this form with 

 8-ranked, equal leaves, from its remarkable tree-like appearance 

 which is not evident in the other forms of the species, is 

 the plant that Michaux had in view for his L. dendroideum even 

 though that author did not mention the number of ranks in 



