436 lycopodiace^. [Lycopodiacea. 



Order CXXIV. LYCOPODIACEA. 



Leaves distinct, radical or alternate, usually small or reduced to minute 

 scales. Spores enclosed in capsules, sessile or nearly so, either at the base or 

 in the axils of the leaves or bracts, or forming a terminal spike interspersed 

 with bracts. 



An Order which, besides the two following, comprises but very few genera and species, 

 dispersed over various parts of the globe. 



Capsules iu the axils of crowded leaves or in terminal spikes .... 1. Lycopodium. 

 Capsules distaut, on minute bifid scale-like bracts 2. Psilotum. 



1. LYCOPODIUM, Linn. 



Capsules sessile in the axils of the upper stem-leaves or of bracts usually 

 thinner and broader than the stem-leaves and forming a terminal spike; the 

 capsules either all opening transversely in 2 valves and filled with minute 

 powdery granules or spores, or some of them 3- or 4-valved, and containing 

 a very few much larger granules. — Perennial herbs, usually much branched 

 and creeping, crowded with small moss-like entire or minutely serrated leaves. 



A large genus widely spread over every part of the globe, and readily divisible into two 

 sections, the true Lycopodia, to which belongs the first of the following species, with all the 

 capsules filled with minute powdery granules, and the Selaginellas, comprising the four re- 

 maining Hongkong species, which have capsules of both kinds. 



Leaves subulate, scattered all round the elongated much branched stem. 



Spikes terminal, nodding 1. L. cernuwn. 



Leaves distichous, in two rows, with two inner longitudinal rows of smaller 

 leaves on one side. 

 Stems very short, thick and erect, with short crowded dichotomous 



branches erect or curved inwards when dry 2. L. involvens. 



Rhizomes or stems decumbent or creeping. 



Leafy branches dichotomous throughout. Inner leaves parallel and 



closely ap pressed to the rhachis 3. L. atroviride. 



Leafy branches mostly pinnate. Inner leaves curved over the 

 rhachis. 



Leafy stems procumbent or trailing and rooting 4. L. cmulatum. 



Leafy stems erect from a creeping rhizome, simple at the base, 



(the branching part about 6 in. long) 5. L. flab ell 'alum. 



1. Ib. cernuum, Linn.; Spring, Monogr. Lycop. i. 79, and ii. 37. Stems 

 hard, rising to 2 ft., or when very luxuriant to 5 or 6 ft. in height, with 

 numerous spreading rlexuose repeatedly forked branches. Leaves fine, subu- 

 late, spreading all round the stem, incurved, 1 to 2 lines long. Spikes ter- 

 minal, nodding, sessile above the last leaves, 2 to 3 lines long. Bracts ovate- 

 lanceolate, ciliate, imbricate in 8 rows, longer than the capsules. — L. amenti- 

 gerum, Groldm. in PL Meyen. 468. 



In woods, Champion and others. Common throughout the tropics, in the New as well as 

 the Old World. 



2. It. involvens, Sw. Stems very short and thick, when old erect and 

 simple, attaining 2 in. or rather more in height, with numerous dichotomous 

 leafy branches 1 to 3 in. long, erect or turned inwards when dry, spreading 

 with moisture. Leaves in 4 rows ; the outer distichous ones about 1 line 

 long, obliquely ovate-falcate, acute with a short fine point ; the midrib ex- 



