122 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS. 



and throughout Scotland. It extends southwards as far as 

 Cornwall, Hampshire, Surrey, and Essex, but is nowhere 

 plentiful in the South. It occurs sparingly in Ireland. In 

 Yorkshire it climbs to an elevation of 2500 feet. The broader 

 distribution of the species extends to the temperate and cold 

 regions of both hemispheres. 



Interrupted Club-moss (Lycopoditim annotinum). 



In general appearance this species might easily be mistaken 

 for the Common Club-moss. There is a very long trailing stem 

 densely covered with leaves and branched at intervals. But 

 the branches are less numerous and are constricted occasionally, 

 whilst the colour of the whole plant is dull green. The lance- 

 shaped leaves, though pointed, are without the long hair-like 

 prolongation. They are arranged in five rows on the stem, but 

 this is not immediately obvious, and they are not so closely 

 pressed to the stem, having a tendency to spread outwards. 

 The constrictions are apparently due to interruptions in the 

 growth. The branches are at first upright, but lose their 

 erectness later. The blunt cones are without stalks, and spring 

 direct from the leafy end of an upright branch. They are 

 greenish-yellow, and drop off after the spores are shed. Their 

 scales have a broad rounded base, sharply toothed, and a 

 broad tapering apex. The spores are ripe from June to 

 August. (Plate 131.) 



In this country the Interrupted Club-moss is almost confined 

 to the Scottish Highlands, where it ascends to 2700 feet, and 

 its lowest level appears to be about 1200 feet. It has been 

 found rarely in the Snowdon district, but it is doubtful if it 

 still occurs there ; also in Cumberland, Westmoreland, Lanca- 

 shire, and Leicestershire. Its habitat is on and among the 

 rocks of alpine moorlands. It has not been reported from 

 Ireland, but farther afield it occurs in Northern Europe, 



