508 Key to the System of 



2130. Leaves very dissimilar to the bracts ... ... ... 2131 



Leaves quite similar to the bracts or the transit 

 gradual ... ... ... ... ... 2132 



2131. Leaves of all the branches almost equal in size. 



Rather tall, almost entirely erect, towards the base usually 

 branchless, towards the summit often much branched ; 

 leaves small, rather appressed, narrow-lanceolar, gradually 

 narrowed into a short-pointed apex ; spikes almost cylin- 

 drical, singly terminating the highest branchlets ; bracts 

 very thin, somewhat spreading particularly their upper 

 end, from a broad base gradually short-pointed ; spore- 

 caselets almost renate. 1. densum. 



Leaves of the fruit-bearing branches much smaller 

 than those of the other branches. 



Here alpine, partly creeping, thence ascending or erect; 

 leaves small, crowded, from narrow lanceolar to almost 

 linear, ending in a conspicuous bristlet, spreading but 

 slightly incurved, turning somewhat to one side on the 

 lower portion of the plant ; fruit-bearing branches elon- 

 gated, straight, slender, terminating in very short 

 branchlets; spikes terminal, often in pairs, occasionally 

 three or more together or one only, thin- cylindrical ; 

 bracts appressed, from a broad base gradually narrowed, 

 often setular- and spreading -pointed ; spore -caselets 

 renate, pale-yellow. " Medicinal Clubmoss." 



(L. Magellanicum. ) L. clavatnm. 



2132. Short and generally erect. 



Chiefly alpine, tufted, robust, often dichotomously few- 

 branched ; leaves rather large, firm, lanceolate-linear, 

 mostly appressed ; spikes terminal, leafy, solitary ; bracts 

 all leaf -like ; spore-caselets almost renate, pale-yellowish. 

 Figure 130. (Passing into the following.) L. selago. 



Long and generally pendent. 



Chiefly on stems of fern-trees, robust, distantly or hardly 

 branched ; leaves rather large, firm, lanceolate-linear, 

 mostly spreading, simply acute or rather blunt; spikes 

 stalkless, often elongated, solitary or two or three to- 

 gether ; bracts in four rows, either leaf -like or the upper 

 gradually much shortened and then closely appressed ; 

 spore-caselets almost renate, pale-yellowish. 



L. variuni. 



