790 LYCOPODIACEX. 
but one genus (Hquisetum, Linn.), which includes about 20 
species, many of which are indigenous. 
Properties and Uses.—Of little importance either in a medi- 
cinal or economig point of view. They were formerly regarded 
as slightly astringent, diuretic, and emmenagogue, but are 
never employed in medicine at the present day. The rhizomes 
contain much of starchy matters in the winter months, and 
might therefore, in case of need, be used as food, like those of 
some Ferns. Silica is abundant in their epidermal tissues : this 
is especially the case in Equisetwm hyemale, Rough Horsetail, 
which is largely imported from Holland under the name of 
Dutch Rushes, and employed by cabinet makers, ivory turners, 
and others, for smoothing the surfaces of their work. 
Order 3. Lycopop1acE&, the Club-moss Order. —Charac- 
ter. — Herbaceous plants, usually resembling Mosses, or rarely 
shrubby, with creeping stems (jig. 1118) or corms, and forked 
ramification (fig. 12). Leaves sessile, small, simple, imbricate 
Fie. 1118. 
SS 
Fig. 1118, Lycopodium inundatum, Marsh Club-moss, The stem is creeping, 
and bears numerous small sessile imbricate leaves. 
(fig. 1118). Sporangia situated in the axis of the leaves, or of 
spicately or cone-like arranged scales (fig. 12), 1—3-celled, 
compressed, often reniform, 2-valved ; and containing numerous 
spores of one kind only, which are marked at the summit with 
3 radiating lines. (See pages 368 and 369.) , 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are almost universally dis- 
