lycopodium.] LYCOPODIACE^. 347 



1. Lycopodium. Linn. Club-moss. 



Capsules 1-celled ; some 2-valved, including a fine powdery 

 substance, others 3-valved, containing a few large grains or 

 seeds. — Named from \vkos, a wolf, and ttovs, irobos, a foot, 

 which the branches of some species are supposed to re- 

 semble. 



1. L. clavatum, Linn. Common Club-moss. Spikes in pairs, 

 cylindrical, stalked, their scales ovate, acuminate, eroso-dentate; 

 stem creeping ; branches ascending ; leaves scattered, incurved 

 and hair pointed. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 457. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 331. 

 E. Bot. t. 224. 



Heathy pastures in mountainous countries. Plentiful on the Dublin 

 Mountains, &c. — The seeds being inflammable, are used to produce 

 artificial lightning on the stage. Stems many feet long. 



2. L. selaginoides, Linn. Lesser alpine Club-moss. Spikes 

 terminal, solitary, sessile ; stem creeping ; branches few, as- 

 cending, simple ; leaves scattered, lanceolate, subpatent, ciliato- 

 denticulate. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 457. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 332. E. 

 Bot. t. 1148. 



Boggy places by the sides of mountains in various parts of the coun- 

 try, and sandy low grounds at Portmamock. Two to three inches 

 high. Stems much branched, spreading, weak and slender below ; the 

 branches erect, leafy, cylindrical, obtuse ; those which bear the fructi- 

 fication longer and stouter than the others. The smallest of our 

 species. 



3. L. alpinum, Linn. Savin-leaved Club-moss. Spikes ter- 

 minal, solitary, sessile, short, cylindrical ; stem prostrate ; 

 branches dichotomous and fascicled ; leaves in four rows, 

 oblong, convex, acute, appressed. Br. Fl. ed. 3. p. 457. E. 

 Fl. v. iv. p. 335. E. Bot. t. 234. 



On the more elevated mountains, more abundant in the north. Do- 

 negal, Derry, and Mourne Mountains, Mangerton and other mountains 

 in Kerry. — " It is used in many countries to dye woollen cloth of a yel- 

 low colour." Hook. 



4. L. Selago, Linn. Fir Club-moss. Capsules in the axils 

 of the common leaves (not spiked) ; stem dichotomously 

 branched, erect, fastigiate ; leaves in about eight rows, linear- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, entire, imbricated, rigid. Br. Fl. ed. 3. 

 p. 457. E. Fl. v. iv.p. 333. E. Bot. t. 233. 



Heathy and stony soils, most abundant all over the country. It is 

 known in Kerry as the (Virgin Mary's Furze.) — " Used in the High- 

 lands, instead of alum, to fix colours in dyeing, and as an emetic and 

 cathartic, but it operates violently. The Swedes use it to destroy lice 

 on swine and other animals." Hook. 



