162 LYCOPODIACEA 
roots, wherewith it is fastened to the upper part of the earth, and taketh 
hold likewise upon such things as grow next unto it. There spring also from 
the branches bare and naked stalks, on which grow certaine ears, as it were, 
like the catkins or blowings of the hasell-tree, in shape like a little club, or 
the reed-mace, saving that it is much lesser, and of a yellowish-white colour, 
very much resembling the clawe of a wolfe ; whereof it hath its name.” He 
adds, however, that the “knobby catkins are altogether barren, and bring 
forth neither seede nor flowre.” 
The astringent properties of this Club-moss were greatly praised by the 
herbalists, and the plant was used for a variety of disorders. John Ray 
mentions that a decoction of the Club-moss was taken in that dreadful disease, 
the Plica Polonica—hence the plant had the old name of Plicaria ; but it is 
little used medicinally now, except by the people of the Orkney Islands, who 
administer it in some diseases of their cattle. The powdery dust (spores) 
is of a very inflammable nature, and was formerly called vegetable sulphur, 
being collected for fireworks, and to represent lightning at theatres. It flashes’ 
when thrown into a flame; and it was brought in large quantities into this 
country from Sweden and Germany, until some preparation of rosin super- 
seded its use in representations of this kind. It seems almost impossible to 
moisten this powder with water, for, when laid on the surface of liquid in a 
basin, the finger may be plunged to the bottom of the vessel without being 
wetted. This substance has also been used for ameliorating wines. Several 
species of Club-moss might remind one of a miniature tree ; and Mr. Fortune 
relates, in his ‘‘ Wanderings in China,” an amusing anecdote referring to 
a curious dwarf species which he found on the hills of Hong-Kong. He dug 
up this plant, and carried with him into the town. The Chinese to whom 
he showed it were quite in a rapture of delight at its appearance, and all 
the servants and coolies on the spot gathered round the basket, to admire 
this curious little plant. As Mr. Fortune had never seen them express so 
much admiration except on one occasion, when he had shown them a cactus 
called Old Man, he naturally inquired into the cause of their satisfaction at 
the appearance of the Lycopodium. They replied in Canton English, “Oh ! 
he too muchin handsome ; he grow only a leete every year, and suppose he 
be one hundred year oula, he only so high ”—holding up their hands an inch 
or two higher than the Club-moss. ‘This little plant,” says Mr. Fortune, 
“is very pretty, and naturally takes the form of a dwarf tree in miniature, 
which was doubtless the reason of its being so much a favourite with the 
Chinese, who think that a tree attains its greatest beauty when its growth is 
stunted by their ingenuity.” 
2. Interrupted Club-moss (L. annétinum).— Leaves scattered, tipped 
with a spine, and edged with small serratures ; ‘spikes without stalks, 
terminal ; scales roundish, with a tapering point, membranous and jagged. 
This plant is so local in growth that it is little known in England, though 
found in Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, at Rumworth Moss in Lanea- 
shire, Teesdale in Durham, Bowfell in Cumberland, and Langdale in West- 
moreland. It grows also on Glyder Vawr, on Snowdon, though when seen 
in 1836, by Mr. Wilson, it had become reduced to a solitary root, and was 
without fructification. In some districts of Scotland it is very abundant, as 
