136 FERNS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



broad at the base, tapering upwards and pointed, and 

 placed very closely together. Between each scale and 

 the stem lies a pale yellow, kidney-shaped capsule, filled 

 with minute, yellowish spores. When these are dispersed 

 the scales turn downwards, and the spike bends down 

 into a semicircular form. This plant is said by Sir 

 W. J. Hooker to be used in several countries to dye 

 woollen cloths of a yellow colour. In Ireland, cloth is 

 commonly dyed by boihng it with the Lycopodium, and 

 with the leaves of the Bog Whortleberry. The flavour 

 of this Savin-leaved moss is bitter and somewhat 

 aromatic. 



4. L. inunddtum (Marsh Club-moss). — Stem creeping ; 

 branches simple; leaves and scales Unear, acute, curved 

 upwards ; spiJces soHtary. Though this plant is rare in 

 the midland and northern counties of England, it is by 

 no means so in the south. It may often be seen on 

 moist heathy moors, especially where the surface has 

 been pared for turf-growing, amid gorse and broom, not 

 usually forming a mossy tract of wide extent, but 

 occurring here and there, in patches, aU over the bog. 

 It is not so conspicuous a plant as to be noticed by 

 many except botanists. Its habit is prostrate ; the stem, 

 which is two or three inches long, being closely pressed 

 to the surface of the soil, and attached to it by a few 

 short, but stout, tough, and branched fibres. The 

 branches are simple, the barren ones lying along the 

 ground; the fertile ones upright. AU parts of the plant 

 are thickly covered with narrow leaves, without serra- 

 tures, but acutely pointed; those leaves which are on 

 the barren stems curving upwards. This plant, during 



