132 FERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



The astringent properties of this Club-moss were greatly- 

 praised by the herbalists, and the plant was used for a 

 variety of disorders, John Ray mentions that a de- 

 coction of the club-moss was taken in that dreadful 

 disease, the Plica Polonica, hence the plant had the old 

 name of Plicaria ; but it is little used medicinally now, 

 except by the people of the Orkney Islands, who admi- 

 nister it in some diseases of their cattle. The powdery 

 dust or poUen is of a very inflammable nature, and was 

 formerly called vegetable sulphur, and collected for 

 fireworks, and to represent lightning at theatres. It 

 flashes when thrown into a flame, and it was brought in 

 large quantities into this country from Sweden and 

 Germany, until some preparation of rosin superseded its 

 use in representations of this kind. It seems almost 

 impossible to moisten this powder with water, for, 

 when laid on the surface of liquid in a basin, the finger 

 may be plunged to the bottom of the vessel without 

 being wetted. This substance has also been used for 

 ameliorating wines. Several of the species of the Club- 

 moss might remind one of a miniature tree ; and Mr. 

 Fortune relates, in his " Wanderings in China," an 

 amusing anecdote referring to a curious dwarf species 

 which he found on the hills of Hong Kong. He dug up 

 this plant, and carried it with him into the town. The 

 Chinese to whom he showed it was quite in a rapture of 

 dehght at its appearance, and all the servants and coolies 

 on the spot gathered round the basket to admire this 

 curious Uttle plant. As Mr. Fortune had never seen 

 them express so much admiration except on one occa- 

 sion, when he had shown them a cactus called Old Man, 



