182 LYCKSELE LAPLAND. 



thence the main stem (b) grows perpendi- 

 cularly to the height of an inch, of a pur- 

 ple colour, clothed with ovate, acute, mem- 

 branous, whitish scales, each half em- 

 bracing the stem. Between the bases of 

 these is a solitary line or rib, into which 

 they are inserted in an alternate order. I 

 imagine the oblique part of the stem (a) to 

 be of autumnal or winter growth, and the 

 upright portion (b) to have been put forth 

 in summer or spring. At the summit of 

 the latter stands a sort of blossom (c), com- 

 posed of six scales, of which the three 

 lower are opposite and shortest ; the three 

 upper larger, ovate, pointed, somewhat 



