HIDDEN MARRIAGES 



517 



prothallium, being buried, is destitute of 

 chlorophyll, and yellowish white in colour. 

 Archegones and antherids are produced 

 in close proximity upon the upper side of 

 the prothallium. The antherozoids are 

 minute, consisting of only a few coils and, 

 so far as at present observed, a couple of 

 cilia. Apparently only one archegone is 

 fertilized on each prothallium. Very little 

 is known of the early stages of growth 

 in the sporophyte, but there is reason for 

 believing that it follows a similar course 

 to that of the Ferns. 



Under the name of Lycopodium powder 

 the spores have been used in mass for 

 coating pills, being damp proof ; and in 

 Vegetable Brimstone. They also have 

 their use in dyeing. The Club Mosses, 

 with the exception of the Marsh Club 

 Moss (Lycopodium inundatum), are found 

 on elevated moorlands, chiefly in the north ; 

 the Marsh species comes farther south, and 

 is found on swampy heaths and around 

 bogs. It forms creeping branched shoots 

 of only a few inches in length, and some 

 of the branches take a vertical direction of 

 growth. These are quite stout and bear 

 sporophylls. The Common Club Moss 

 (Lycopodium davatum] extends for several 

 feet, and throws up numerous erect branches 

 with the clubbed extremity which gives 

 the popular and expressive name to the 

 group. But the club appearance is not so 

 much due to any real greater stoutness of 

 the upper part as to the fact that the 

 leaves for a short distance below are less 

 spreading, and have their upper faces 

 more closely pressed to the stem. This 

 gives a more slender appearance to this 

 part, and enhances the slight advantage 

 the club has in circumference. The Fir 

 Club Moss (Lycopodium selago) is a con- 

 spicuous object on northern mountains, 

 though it also occurs sparingly upon high 



FIG. 659. LESSER ALPINE CLUB 

 Moss (Selaginella selaginoides). 



Microsporange to the right, and megasporange 

 to the left of stem. 



pyrotechny they are known as 



FIG. 660. COMMON CLTTB Moss 

 (Lycopodium clavatum). 



0) Spikes or cones, (a) Fertile leaf or sporo- 

 phyll with sporange, (sp) Spore. 



