Plate 250.— LYCOPODIUM RAMULOSUM. 



Family LYCOPODIACE^..] [Genus LYCOPODIUM, Linn. 



Lycopodium ramulosum, T. Kirk In Trans: N.Z. Inst, xi (1879), 450, t. l!)n : Clieesem Man 

 N.Z. Fl. 1038. 



According to Mr. T. Kirk, Lijcofodium ramulosum was originally dis- 

 covered by Mr. Tipler near Mokitiiva, and at a little later date by Mr. A. 

 Hamilton at Okarito. Its distinctness as a species was first estalilishcd by 

 Mr. Kirk in 1879, when he gave a full description of it under the name it still 

 bears. In 1884 Mr. Kirk recorded its presence in Stewart Island, remarking 

 that it was found chiefly " in o]ien peaty land and in swam|)y woods," and 

 that in some localities it covered " acres of ground." Between 1885 and 1905 

 it was collected in several localities in Wcstland l)y Mr. J. W. Brame and 

 other observers, and in 1906 Mr. Townson extended its northern range by 

 ascertaining that it is an abundant plant on several of the u])land " pakihis " 

 near Westport. Lastly, in 1909, Dr. Cockayne, in his report on the vegetation 

 of Stewart Island, states that it is extremely common in " Bog, openings in 

 siibalpine scrub, and in subalpine meadow." From the above it is apparent 

 that the plant is fairly plentiful in peaty moorlands from north-west Nelson 

 to the south of Stewart Island. Its altitudinal range is from sea-level to 

 2,500 ft. 



L. ramulosum is more closely allied to the Australian L. diffusum than 

 to any other species, principally differing, as Mr. Baker has remarked, in its 

 entirely terminal spikes, whereas in L. diffusum they are frequently lateral. 

 The ordinary form of L. laterale can be distinguished at a glance by its erect 

 sparingly branched stems, with purely lateral spikes. On the whole. Lycopo- 

 dium ramulosum is well marked by its terminal spikes, compactly branched 

 habit of growth, and by the procumbent or prostrate stems. 



Plate 250. Lycofodium ramulosum, drawn from specimens collected near Kumara. Westland, by 

 Mr. Brame. Fig. 1, portion of a branchlet, with a spike (x 3) ; 2 and 3, leaves (x 6) : 4, dorsal view 

 of bract ; 5, front view of bract, showing the sporangium : 6, sporangium : 7, spores. (All enlarged ) 



