PERNS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 127 



species. It occurs in abundance on moors and bogs, 

 and on most of the mountains in the North of England, 

 Wales, and Scotland.. It is found in similar places in 

 many of the northern parts of Europe and Asia, and 

 from Canada to Pennsylvania in America. It is a fine 

 looking plant, having stems creeping some feet in length, 

 and bearing many branches, which are at first a little 

 raised from the ground, but which soon become pro- 

 strate. It is sometimes very luxuriant, and Mr. New- 

 man mentions having frequently found plants on a hiU 

 near Earnham, in Surrey, measuring ten or twelve yards 

 in circumference. Its stems are attached to the soil at 

 every part where they touch it by scattered yellowish 

 roots, and its branches cross each other, so as to form a 

 large green net-work over the soil ; hence the Swedes call 

 the plant Matte-grass. These roots and matted branches 

 are of much use in binding down the loose earth on 

 hill-sides, and on the surface of mountains, as this is 

 continually liable to crumble from the action of the 

 atmosphere. 



The stiff wiry branches and stems of the Stag's-horn 

 are thickly surrounded with small narrow leaves of 

 a lanceolate form, flat and smooth, but with shghtly- 

 toothed edges. The thread-like point, which terminates 

 each little leaf, gives a greyish tint to the otherwise 

 bright green hue of the plant. The upright stalks, on 

 which the spikes are placed, are destitute of leaves, but 

 have some small leaf-like scales irregularly disposed in 

 whorls around them, and pressed close to their surface ; 

 they are pointed, but have not the hair-like points of the 

 leaves. The spikes of fructification, which are usually 



