THb CREEPING SELAGINELLA (jROUP. 



right angles. Alternating with these larger leaves is a 

 series of smaller ones attaclied to the stem on the 

 upper side, to which they are closely appressed, with 

 their tips pointing outward. These smaller leaves are 

 about half the size of the others, and, like them, are 

 somewhat unequal-sided. They are ovate at base and 

 end in a tapering point. 



The fruit-spikes are half erect and are borne on the 

 ends of the branches, from which they differ little in 

 appearance except in being more leafy. They are ob- ^ 

 scurely four-angled, and the lens shows 

 tiiem to consist of four rows of sporo- 

 phylls of equal size. This is explained 

 upon the supposition that in the 

 fruiting-spikes the two rows of small 

 leaves on the stems have become a-s 

 large as the others. The spikes are 

 under half an inch long and are usually 

 borne singly. The sporophylls are 

 ovate, sharp-pointed, and keeled in the 

 upper half. ^p""=- 'Enlarged.) 



The majority of our selaginellas are found in dry situ- 

 ations, but the present species is a lover of moisture and 

 is found in wet meadows and pastures in company with 

 mosses and sedges. It is frequently abundant on the 

 bare soil at the base of sedge tussocks and on the sides 

 of channels formed by tiny rills. It must often be 

 sought on hands and Icnees, though it is occasionally so 

 plentiful as to form close mats. In the vicinity of New- 

 York it is frequently found on damp lawns. It is ex- 

 ceedingly like some of the mosses of the genus Milium, 

 but can alwaj's be distinguished from them by its leaves 

 of two sizes. Its colour is of a characteristic and deli- 



