THE CLUB MOSSES 103 



or three of them may be allotted to each stalk. 

 If closely examined it will be found that the 

 fruiting spikes are composed of a number of leaf- 

 like bracts, each one of which bears the case 

 filled with spores. After the dispersal of the 

 spores the cones fall off, but the plant as a 

 whole remains green throughout the winter. 



The Common Club Moss is often very abun- 

 dant upon the moors of the North of England, 

 and also in Scotland and in Wales. On account 

 of its creeping habit of growth the plant is often 

 overlooked, and few people realize that this 

 Club Moss is really very common. Sometimes 

 single plants cover huge areas of ground, and 

 many of the trailing stems are several feet in 

 length. The spores of this, in common with 

 those of other Lycopodiums, are inflammable ; 

 and in the old days these were used in the 

 manufacture of fireworks. 



Lycopodium selago. In this case the specific 

 name of selago was that formerly given to all 

 the Club Mosses. The Fir Club Moss. 



This is a very pretty little plant, which, on 

 account of its upright habit of growth, attracts 

 a good deal of attention. The stems vary from 

 about three to six inches in height, and these rise 

 upwards from a main stem which sometimes, 

 but not always, trails along the ground for a 

 short distance. The branches are very thickly 

 covered with leaves which overlap one another, 

 and are very stiff. Indeed, the whole plant is 

 covered with the foliage, which, being narrow and 

 pointed, is almost bristle-like in appearance. 

 The colour of the foliage is bright green. The 

 spore capsules are present in the axils of the 

 uppermost leaves of the branches, and these 

 are kidney-shaped. The Fir Club Moss is also 

 very commonly propagated by means of special 



