168 ML^DICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



float as a thin Ia3'er, and one's fingers ma}' now be repeatedly 

 thrust into the water and withdrawn without becoming wet 

 in the least. Its waterproof nature gives lycopodium some 

 value as an application to moist, inflamed surfaces of the 

 body, and makes the spores useful also as a co\'ering for 



. IfiU. — 8as,s;ifraw (,Sa.s7,'ayV«.^' ujficiridlr, Laurel Famil,\', Laurcicc^r). A, 

 flowiTiiiK twig of staminatc plant. B, branch bearing leaves and fruit. 

 I", staminate flower. D, pistillate flower. E, stamen, showiuK neetar 

 kUiuiIs at base of filament, and anther ii]>enin<i: by up-turned valves. 

 F. pi.stil, cut A'crticallj-. (Bern and Srhnndt.) — Tree growing 20- 

 .'-lo m. tall; \'oung branches green: li'a\'cs iK^ciJUung smooth, arranatic; 

 flowers yellow; fruit blue on red stalks. Native homi'. Eastern North 

 America. 



moist pills to pi-cvcnt their slicking togethci-. The large 

 amoiuit of fixed (lil rontaiiic(l in the spores renders them, 

 iiiorco\'er, \'ei'\' iiillannnabic, and has k'tl to their use iii the 

 nianiitacture of fii-cworks, and also as a. means of producing 

 artificial lightning in ]>ri\'a,t(' I heat ricals. 



