LYCOPODIUM. 215 



our common species, is highly inflammable, and is used in 

 pyrotechny under the name of vegetable brimstone. Being 

 of a drying and healing nature, it is also used to prevent 

 excoriation ; and in pharmacy is used sometimes for coat- 

 ing pills, as it is with difficulty wetted. The Common 

 Club-moss is emetic, and the Fir Club-moss is a cathartic 

 and a powerful irritant ; the former is used in the treat- 

 ment of cutaneous disorders, and is a reputed remedy for 

 the plica Polonica. 



The tiny species of Lycopods now known to botanists 

 have been thought to be the direct representatives of the 

 vast tree-like Lepidodendra met with in a fossil state, 

 and which, in former ages, must have rivalled our coni- 

 ferous trees. The evidence in support of this view has 

 been questioned ; but there seems no good reason to doubt, 

 at least, that there is a very close affinity between the two 

 races ; and, indeed, some of the most skilful investigators 

 of this subject find an almost complete agreement between 

 them. 



The British species of this order are, with one excep- 

 tion, included in the genus Z?/coj»oc?/i^??2, the name of which 

 comes from lycos, a wolf, and pous, podos, a foot, and is 

 given in allusion to the supposed resemblance of its forked 



