22 CRYPTOGAMIA LYCOPODINE^. 



In the Island of Raasay, near Sky, and some other places, 

 the inhabitants make use of this plant instead of alum, to 

 fix the colours in dyeing. The Highlanders and Swedes 

 sometimes take an ijrfosion of it as an emetic and cathartic, 

 but it operates violently, and, unless in a small dose, brings 

 on giddiness and convulsions. LIGHT FOOT. " Solent rus- 

 tici, boves vel sues phthiriasi laborantes decocto hujus 

 musci lavare, quo facto intra aliquot dies a molestis hisce 

 insectis liberantur." LIN. 



The Selago is mentioned by PLINY as a plant which the 

 Druids gathered with much ceremony, and with various 

 superstitious observances, to employ it in the cure of dis- 

 eases of the eyes, or as a charm to avert misfortune. 

 Some commentators are of opinion that this is the plant. 



4. L. alpinum, stems prostrate ; branches erect, clustered, forked, 

 level-topped ; leaves acute, keeled, imbricated in 4 rows ; scales 

 of the spikes ovate-lanceolate, flat. 



Hob. On heaths. Frequent in Cheviot,Wallis. Lamberton 

 Moor, and not uncommon in the Lammermuirs. Aug. 



The leaves are of a glaucous-green colour ; and those of the 

 flowering stalks are closely imbricated all round. 



Note. In this and the preceding Orders I have as usual ad- 

 hered to the nomenclature of Sir J. E. SMITH'S English Flora ; 

 and it is not without a feeling of great regret that I now part 

 with this admirable guide, for the work was left incomplete by its 

 author, whom SPRENGEL has with much propriety designated as 

 the "Jdignissimus Linnaei hseres." Though a follower of the Lin- 

 nean system, which no one understood so well, or more candidly 

 appreciated, and which I trust may still find some other place in 

 science " than among the records of things whose fame has passed 

 away," he never depreciated a rival system, but on the contrary 

 estimated it at its proper value, and gladly applauded in it what- 

 ever was worthy of applause ; .unlike in this respect some who 

 vainly affect to consider themselves his superiors. There is no 

 individual to whom the British botanist ought to be more grate- 

 ful none whose memory he ought to cherish more dearly than 

 that of Sir J. E. SMITH. 



