616 THE CLUBMOSS FAMILY. 



moss-like, entire or minutely serrated leaves. Capsules sessile in the axils 

 of the upper stem-leaves, or of bracts usually thinner and broader than the 

 stem-leaves, forming an erect, cyUndrical terminal spike, each capsule open- 

 ing by a transverse sht in 2 valves, and either all filled with minute powdery 

 granules, or some containing larger grains. 



A large genus, widely spread over every part of the globe, and readily di- 

 visible into two sections, often considered as genera, the true Cluhmosses, 

 with all the capsviles filled with minute powdery granules, which comprise 

 our 5 first species ; and the Selaginellas, which have capsules of both kinds, 

 and are represented in Britain only by the lesser C. 



Capsules in the axils of the stem-leaves. Stems tufted, scarcely 



creeping i. Fir C. 



Capsules in terminal spikes. Stems creeping or prostrate. 

 Creeping stems long and hard. Fruiting branches forked or 

 clustered. 

 Leaves about 1 line long, closely imbricated in 4 rows .... 3. Alpine C. 

 Leaves 2 or 3 hues long, spreading, with fine points. 



Spikes pedunculate, usually 2 or 3 together 1. Common C. 



Spike solitary and sessile above the last stem-leaves ... 2. Interrupted C. 

 Creeping or prostrate stems, slender, 1 to 3 inches long. Fruiting 

 branches simple. 

 Creeping stems sUghtly branched, with narrow leaves all turned 



up one way 5. Marsh C. 



Prostrate stems much branched. Leaves small, spreading . . 6. Lesser C. 



1. Common Clubmoss. Iiycopodium clavattim, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 224.) 



Stems hard, creeping, 1 to 2 feet long, with ascending forked branches, 1 

 to 3 inclies long, all completely covered with the crowded, moss-like, but 

 rather stiff leaves, which are linear, 2 to 3 Unes long, including their fine, 

 liair-like points ; those on the creeping stem aU turned upwards ; those on 

 the branches imbricated all round. Spikes 1 to 1^ inches long, scattering 

 their yellow dust in great profusion, 2 or sometimes 3 together, on a pedun- 

 cle at least as long, bearing smaU, narrow, yellowish leaves or scales, about 

 lialf as large as the stem-leaves. 



In hilly pastures and heaths, in central and northern Europe, Kussian 

 Asia, and North America, extending from the Pyrenees and the Alps to 

 the Arctic regions, and in the southern hemisphere. Generally distributed 

 over Britain, but more common in the north. Fr. summer and atitumn. 



2. Interrupted Clubmoss. Iiycopodium annotinum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1727.) 



The long, hard, creeping stems, with short ascending branches all covered 

 with leaves, are the same as in the common C, but the leaves are much 

 stiiFer, more spreading, full 3 lines long, without any hair-Uke point, and 

 the spikes, seldom an inch long, are always solitary and closely sessile at the 

 extremity of the leafy branches. 



In mountain heaths, woods, and stony places, in central and northern 

 Europe, Russian Asia, and North America, extending from the Alps to the 

 Arctic regions. In Britain, only in the mountains of Scotland, northern 

 England, and North Wales. Fr. summer and autumn. 



3. Alpine Clubmoss. Iiycopodium alpinum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 234.) 

 The stems creep as in the last two species, and sometimes attain a consi- 



