106 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



in great abundance in elevated districts in 

 Scotland and Ireland. It seems to be most 

 happy in elevated situations. 



Lycopodium annotinum. In this case the 

 specific name is from the Latin term signifying 

 " a year old." This is an allusion to the fact 

 that the yearly additions to the plant are very 

 evident. The Interrupted Club Moss. 



This species at first sight is sometimes taken 

 for the Common Club Moss. It is, however, 

 readily distinguished when its branches are 

 examined ; these are increased annually by an 

 addition which is very plainly to be observed. 

 It is seen that at these periods the leaves are 

 smaller and much less inclined to spread than 

 in the normal forms. At times the branches 

 divide, and at the tip of some of the upright 

 shoots occur the fertile cones. Each one of 

 these is about an inch long, and it is covered 

 with bracts upon which the spore capsules 

 are borne. The Interrupted Club Moss is a 

 fine species, and is of a pale green colour. 



This is probably the rarest of our native 

 Club Mosses. In some parts of Scotland it is 

 said to be abundant, but the plant is always 

 a local one. It has been found in the North 

 of England, though it is decidedly uncommon. 



In the United Kingdom there is only one 

 native species of Selaginella. 



Selaginella spinosa. In this case the generic 

 name is derived from the name Selago ; 

 actually the name means " a little Club Moss." 

 The specific name has reference to the tiny 

 spines on the margins of the leaves. The 

 Lesser Alpine Club Moss. 



This plant is, of course, very distinct from 

 the Lycopodium, in that it produces two kinds 

 of spores. The Lesser Alpine Club Moss is a 



