72 THE LYCOPODIACE^E. 



able for their leaves, which, though small, are so numer- 

 ous as often to make.it easier to infer the presence of a 

 stem than actually to see it. 



In our species of Lycopodium there is nothing that can 

 be called a rootstock, unless we are inclined to call the 

 main axis a combination of rootstock and stem. In some 

 species this axis is above ground and covered on all sides 

 with the leaves ; in others it is beneath the surface or 

 buried in the debris that covers the forest floor; and in 

 still others it creeps upon the surface of the earth with 

 roots on the under surface and leaves on the upper. In 

 all, it may send out roots whenever it comes in contact 

 with the earth. It is noticeable, however, that there is 

 only 'one growing end to this axis, and that the other is 

 more rootlike in appearance. As the stem continues to 

 add to its length at the growing end, it as slowly dies at 

 the other, and thus the plants year by year move slowly 

 forward, and, though rooted in the soil, no individual 

 plant occupies quite the same position for two successive 

 seasons. Indeed, although the life of the plant has 

 continued uninterruptedly, it may be fairly questioned 

 whether after some years it is the same individual. The 

 leaves are not the same, the roots and stem are not the 

 same, and it does not occupy the same place in the 

 woodland. 



In some species the main axis reaches a length of ten 

 or fifteen feet ; in others, less than half as many inches. 

 It usually takes a course parallel to the surface of the 

 earth and occasionally sends out secondary stems that 

 are exactly like it in growth and function. From all 

 these stems spring the short upright branches that form 

 the noticeable part of the plant. The leaves are small 

 and pointed, with a distinct midrib, which, however, does 



