THE CLUB MOSSES in 



the plant. The specific name has reference 

 to the fact that the plant is very abundant in 

 Carolina, though as a matter of fact it occurs 

 in other parts of the world. It should be 

 pointed out that the Azolla is not a native of 

 the United Kingdom, but it has become well 

 established in some parts of the South of 

 England. 



During the summer time the Azolla, which 

 is a floating plant, increases with great rapidity, 

 sometimes completely covering the surface of a 

 lake. At first the fronds, which are exquisitely 

 beautiful, are of a silver-green colour ; towards 

 the autumn they assume a bright crimson 

 tint. Underneath the fronds are produced a 

 large quantity of roots which hang down into 

 the water. Two kinds of spores are produced. 

 The microspores are packed away in cases 

 which are provided with curious barbed con- 

 trivances. The megaspores bear hooks, and 

 in this way the two processes become attached. 

 The Azolla is a pretty plant to grow in an 

 aquarium, though where it has been able to 

 make itself at home it will sometimes increase 

 so vigorously that all other vegetation is 

 killed. 



