SELAGINELLAS 643 
the stigmas are feathered to the base. The species inhabit the Temperate 
Regions of the world; and two of them are British, but these have more 
agricultural than horticultural interest. 
AIRA PULCHELLA (pretty). Stems tufted, thread-like, 
6 to 8 inches high. Leaves very short. Flowers in large, 
loose panicles ; branches exceedingly fine and hair-like, repeatedly forked ; 
June. Annual. Introduced from Spain, 1820. Plate 302c. 
DESCHAMPSIA FLEXUOSA (waved), formerly included in the genus 
Aira, is a native perennial worth growing. Its stems are about a foot 
high, and the panicle loose and spreading, with wavy, angled branches, 
and shining purplish or yellow-brown spikelets; June to August. 
AGROSTIS NEBULOSA (misty). Cloud Grass. A European annual 
whose panicles are very similar to those of Aira pulchella, but examina- 
tion of the spikelets reveals only one flower instead of two. 
All these are of the simplest to grow. Any garden 
soil will suffice for them; and the seeds should be sown in 
the border, or in pots, as desired, in spring. They will be found 
especially useful to cut for bouquets. 
[any other species of ornamental grasses might be described did 
space allow, but these scarcely come within the scope of the present 
work. Those we have named are a mere acknowledgment that grasses 
are well worthy of the attention of the horticulturist; and a similar 
remark will apply to the Selaginellas and Ferns next to be noticed in 
the completion of our task. About three thousand five hundred species 
of Ferns and their allies are known (to say nothing of their very 
numerous varieties), and over a thousand of these are in cultivation. 
Readers will therefore understand that in giving up a few pages of our 
book to the description and illustration of a very small sample of these 
graceful and interesting plants, we are as far as possible from making 
any pretence of dealing with the group in the manner they deserve. 
Principal Species. 
Cultivation. 
SELAGINELLAS 
Natural Order SELAGINELLACE&. Genus Selaginella 
SELAGINELLA (the diminutive of Selago, the old name of a species of 
Lycopodium). A genus of about three hundred species of Vascular 
Cryptogams, differing from the plants we have hitherto been considering 
in the fact that (in common with Ferns, Mosses, Seaweeds, ete.) they 
produce no flowers, but are propagated by spores. These are single cells, 
