FIG. 26. 



THE BRITISH CLUB-MOSSES. 93 



spreading, lanceolate, narrowing towards, but bluntish at 

 the apex, and tapering at the base ; from three-fourths of an 

 inch to an inch and a half long, thick when 

 fresh, so that the slender veins are not 

 seen ; they are, however united in very 

 much elongated meshes. The fertile branch 

 or spike is somewhat taller than the barren 

 branch, supported by a footstalk, which is 

 thickened upwards ; itself about half an 

 inch long, linear, with a tapering apex, and 

 bearing along each margin about six imbed- 

 ded spore-cases, which at length burst trans- 

 versely. 



The existence of this curious little plant 

 in Guernsey, was first made known in 1854. 

 One remarkable feature of the plant is the 

 very early period of the year at which its 

 growth is made. By the middle of January 

 it is fully developed, and the fronds no 

 doubt perish early in the spring. The range 

 of this Ophioglossum appears to be exten- 

 sive ; for it is recorded to inhabit the sandy 

 coasts, both of Europe and Africa, washed 

 by the Mediterranean Sea ; and to extend 

 to the Canary Islands and Madeira. It is not 

 improbable that a diligent search might be 

 rewarded by its discovery in the western 

 counties of England, or in Ireland. Its early development 

 and speedy decay should, however, be borne in mind by those 

 who may undertake the search. 



CHAPTEK XXm. 



TUB BRITISH CLUB-MOSSES. 



THE Club-mosses are, as the name implies, moss-like plants 

 mostly of creeping or prostrate habit ; with slender fork- 

 branched stems, which are throughout their whole length 

 clothed with leaves so placed as to overlie each other like 

 the tiling of a roof. The fructification is produced in the 

 axils of some of these leaves, in most of the species confined 

 to those at the apex of the branches, where it forms a cone- 



