222 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS 



own length. They are commonly produced in pairs, though 

 sometimes singly, and occasionally three together on the 

 same stalk. These spikes are cylindrical, and supported 

 on a short pedicel at the top of the common stalk ; they 

 are erect, but afterwards become more or less curved ; and 

 consist of crowded triangular-ovate acuminate bracts, of a 

 pale-yellow colour, having membranous serrated margins. 

 In the axils of these bracts the spore- cases are produced, 

 and these are subreniform, two-valved, and filled with 

 innumerable sulphur-coloured powdery spores. The bracts 

 become reflexed after the spore-cases have shed their 

 contents. 



This is a common species, growing in moors and heathy 

 places, in mountainous and hilly tracts of country through- 

 out England, Wales, and Scotland ; and frequent, though 

 less abundant, in Ireland. 



The leafy stems of this species are used for dyeing pur- 

 poses, as well as to fix colours in the stead of alum. The 

 long slender stems, used under the name of Stags-horn 

 Moss, are formed into pretty ornaments for the houses of 

 rustics, and for decorating their fireplaces during summer. 

 Linnaeu^ relates that in Lapland the boys have their heads 

 decorated with chaplets formed of it, which — the twin 



