y BRITISH PERNS. 



intervals whorls of similar smaller bodies called bracts, closely 

 pressed to the stalk. 



The spikes of fructification are usually over an inch in 

 length, and are supported by a stalk of twice or more their 

 own length. They are commonly produced in pairs, though 

 sometimes singly, and occasionally three together on the 

 same stalk. These spikes are cylindrical, erect, consisting of 

 crowded triangular-ovate acuminate bracts of a pale yellow 

 colour, having membranous serrated margins. In the axils 

 of these bracts the spore-cases are produced, and these are 

 subreniform, two-valved, and filled with innumerable sul- 

 phur-coloured powdery spores. The bracts become reflexed 

 after the spore-cases have shed their contents. 



This is a common species, growing in moors and heathy 

 places in mountainous and hilly tracts of country through- 

 out England, Wales, and Scotland j and frequent, though less 

 abundant, in Ireland. 



The leafy stems of this species are used for dyeing pur- 

 poses, as well as to fix colours in the stead of alum. The 

 long slender stems, used under the name of Stag's-horn 

 Moss, are formed into pretty ornaments for the houses of 

 rustics, and for decorating their fire-places during summer. 

 Linnaeus relates that in Lapland the boys have their heads 

 decorated with chaplets formed of it, which the twin spikes 

 projecting on all sides have the effect of calling up the 

 idea of groups of fauns and satyrs. Indeed, the long 

 flexible stems are not badly adapted for various decorative 

 purposes. 



THE MAESH CLUB-MOSS. 



This is the Lycopodium inundatum of the botanists ; a 

 diminutive and common plant, very frequent on moist 

 heaths and commons in the southern parts of England, less 

 common northwards,_ comparatively rare in Wales and Scot- 

 land, and not found in Ireland. It prefers to grow on spots 

 from which the turf has been pared, and is of prostrate habit, 

 with simple stems two or three inches long, growing close to 

 the surface of the ground, to which they are firmly attached 

 by a few short stout roots. They are thickly clothed with 

 narrow linear-lanceolate acute-pointed entire leaves; those 

 on the barren horizontal stems are curved upwards. The 

 plant extends itself at the point, throughout the growing 

 season, the other end meanwhile undergoing a process of 

 decay, so that in winter, when the growth is arrested, the 

 decay still going on, the living stem is much reduced, and a 



