THE CREEPING SELAG1NELLA GROUP. 159 



from only the lowest joints of the stem. The stem is 

 branched as in Selaginella apus, but the longer basal 

 branches are nearly upright, though their branchlets, 

 especially during the growing season, droop gracefully 

 away from the main axis of the plant. 



This species begins growth early in the year, and by 

 the middle of April the stems are mature. The sporan- 

 gia are borne in the axils of the leaves at the tip of the 

 branchlets, and the fruiting parts have more of a resem- 

 blance to a cone than they have in Selaginella apus, 

 owing to the fact that the sporophylls are less spreading. 

 The spikes of fruit are often more than half an inch 

 long and are usually abundant. The spores are ripe in 

 May or earlier. 



Although both kinds of leaves are like those of Sela- 

 ginella apus, it may be noted that they are slightly 

 longer for their width and somewhat thicker than in that 

 species. The sporophylls also have longer tips. These 

 differences, however, are not apparent until viewed with 

 a lens. 



Selaginella Ludoviciana has thus far been found only 

 in a few scattered localities in Florida, Alabama, and 

 Louisiana. It was first discovered by Drummond at 

 Covington, in the latter State. The author has collected 

 it at Pearl River, and it has been found in several other 

 places in the vicinity of New Orleans. Its favourite 

 haunts are the more open spots in the sandy pine barrens. 

 It does not appear to be quite so dependent upon mois- 

 ture as the creeping selaginella but it is by no means a 

 dry-ground species. It is probably not uncommon in 

 suitable situations along the Gulf coast and may yet be 

 found in Texas. The illustration is made from plants 

 collected by Prof. R. S. Cocks at Mandeville, Louisiana. 



