84 



it is in contact witli the earth. The plant in its normal form appears 

 to be perfectly erect, but its hold on the ground being apparently in- 

 sufficient for the maintenance of this position, it generally becomes 

 partially recumbent, as represented in the figure. This change takes 

 place as soon as the plant has risen above the stunted herbage with 

 which it is commonly surrounded, and has thus subjected itself to the 

 action of the violent winds that seem to be almost incessantly sweep- 

 ing the mountain-sides. 



The stems are repeatedly dichotomous, stout, rigid, somewhat flat- 

 topped, and usually erect. 



Every part of the plant is densely clothed with rigid, lanceolate, 

 acute, entire leaves, much resembling those of Lycopodium annoti- 

 num. At the upper extremity of each branch a portion of these 

 leaves become transformed into irregular 6-cleft calyces or cups, 

 very closely resembling the perichsetia of mosses; 

 the outermost lobe of the six which compose this cup 

 is longer and larger than the rest, and of the pair on 

 each side one is generally incumbent on the other, 

 so as nearly to conceal it ; this was overlooked by 

 Lightfoot, who, in speaking of the cup, describes 

 it as consisting of ^^four stiff, lanceolate, incurved, 

 minute leaves." This perichsetial cup is shown in 

 the margin, and also at a a, in figures 2 and 3 of the 

 cut below. Lightfoot, in continuing his description, 

 goes on to say, "at the bottom of this calyx are five small pellucid 

 substances resembling leaves, which are supposed to be analogous to 

 pistils, these in time grow up into three large broad leaves, two unit- 

 ed together like the hoof of an ox, &c." I have only examined these 

 parts when in the mature state. Instead of terming the interior pro- 

 12 3 4 



cesses leaves, I should be inclined to say that within each perichsetial 

 cup already described, is situated a kind of flattened gemma or bud. 



