Forbesiane. N. O. Lycopodiacee 
TAB. CLXII. CLXIII. 
LycopopIUM LEPIDOPHYLLUM. 
Caulibus plurimis cespitosis bi-tri-pinnatis stellatim dispositis 
siccitate incurvis globum formantibus, ramis undique foliosis, 
foliis distichis arctissime imbricatis coriaceo-rigidis late ovatis 
obtusis margine scariosis basi ciliatis subtus pallidis rufescenti- 
bus, stipulis folic subsimilibus margine toto ciliatis, spicis 
terminalibus acute triquetris, bracteis cordato-acuminatis. 
Lycopodium lepidophyllum. Hook. et Grev. Enum. Fil. suppl. 
in Bot. Misc. v. 3. p. 106. 
Mexico (near San Blas.) Capt. Henry Dundas. I possess 
specimens from Alex. Caldcleugh, Esq., Mr. Cuming, J. T. 
Mackay, Esq. and Dr. Forbes :—all I believe from Mexico. 
This plant, in S, America, long enjoyed such a celebrity from its 
remarkably hygrometric property, that specimens form an article 
of commerce between Mexico and Peru. Like the Anastatica 
Hierochuntica, or famous Rose of Jericho,—in a dried state, the 
stems and branches are incurved so that the whole plant forms 
an elastic ball :—on being moistened, the stems and branches 
spread out horizontally : and this experiment may be repeatedly 
performed. Mr. Cuming gave an equal weight in gold for the 
specimen, which, so far as I know, was the first perfect one ever 
brought to Europe, and which he kindly presented to me; but 
numerous and finer specimens have since been given me by 
Dr. Forbes of Chichester, through the Rev. G. E. Smith. 
Fig. 1. Portion of a branch, underside. jf 2. Upperside. f- 3. 
Leaf. f. 4. Stipule. f. 5. Fertile spikes. jf 6. Bractea, and 
J. 7. Capsule from the same : — magnified. 
