so 



])r()i)agiitc(l ill a state of nature, and not by its seeds. In a paper by 

 Sir J. E. Smith, ])rinted in the 'Transactions of the Linnean Society,' 

 Mr. .Joseph Fox, of Norwich, is said to have raised young plants of 

 l^ycopodium Selago from seed. The record of these experiments ap- 

 pears to rac very unsatisfactory, as no detail is given, and I am quite 

 inclined to suppose that the gemma; were mistaken by that industri- 

 ous individual for the seeds ; if so, his observations have been verified 

 by many subsequent cultivators.* 



I have already stated that the pericha^tial leaves and their buds 

 occur near the extremities of the branches; belowthem, 

 and in the axils of the ordinary leaves, are produced 

 the true theca;, each ultimate branch being alike fer- 

 tile throughout the greater part of its length. The 

 ihecse are sessile, large, yellow, renifonrn and bivalve ; 

 their dehiscence is rectilinear and longitudinal, but 

 rarely takes place in a state of nature. In every 

 plant that I have examined while living, the thecse 

 have been firmly closed; by pressure however they 

 may be compelled to open, when they ai'e found to 

 be filled with minute yellow seeds. A detached leaf with its axillary 

 thcca is represented in the margin. 



The Lycopodia of Britain being now enumerated, I think it best to 

 state in answer to some direct enquiries and for the information of 

 botanists generally, that this little monograph will not be reprinted in 

 a separate form. I think it due to the subscribers to ' The Phytolo- 

 gist ' to give them this assurance. I take this opportunity of return- 

 ing my best thanks to those botanists who have so kindly assisted me 

 in the genus Lycopodium, and of soliciting information respecting 

 Jsoetes and Pilularia. Among the specimens of Isoetes which 1 have 

 seen, there appear two constant varieties, unaltered by locality or sea- 

 son ; they grow side by side in the lakes of Caernarvonshire. Any 

 information tending to prove that these are or are not species, will be 

 very thankfully received. In order to allow time for communications 

 on these genera, I shall not describe either of them in the December 

 number of ' The Phytologist.' 



Edward Newman. 



* The passage referred to is as follows : — " Mr. Joseph Fox, a journeyman weaver 

 of Norwich, * * * phowed mc in the year 177}) young- plants of " Lycopodium 

 Selago," raised from Bced in his own garden." ' I^in. Trans.' ii. 316. 



