138 PERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 



The former have also their leaves longer and more 

 pressed to the stalk, and the terminal spike of fructifica- 

 tion is about an inch long. This is thickly covered with 

 scales, pressed close to its surface, and having their 

 edges jagged with spiny teeth. This is the only British 

 species bearing both the kinds of fructification alluded to 

 in the description of the genus. The lower scales have 

 the pale yellow capsules seated at their base, containing 

 three or four large grains, equal in size to the seeds of 

 many flowering plants ; and the capsules of the upper 

 ones contain the dust-like powder which forms the seed 

 of the Lycopodiums in general. The spike is annual, 

 decaying immediately after the dispersion of its contents, 

 and both kinds of fructification appear to be true seeds 

 of the plant. 



6. L. Seldgo (Pir Club-moss, — Upright Fir-moss). — 

 Stem erect, with forked branches ; leaves in eight rows ; 

 fructification axillary. This is among our most generally 

 distributed Club-mosses, and is more frequent in this 

 kingdom than any species except the common Club- 

 moss. It often grows on the summits of lofty moun- 

 tains, as on Snowdon, and on the "dark brow of the 

 mighty Helvellyn ;" yet it is a common plant too on the 

 heathy lands of lower districts. It is a moss of old 

 repute among the Highlanders, Selago being the ancient 

 name of some succulent plant, and derived, according to 

 De Theis, from the Celtic sel, sight, and jack, salutary, 

 because useful in complaints of the eyes. From the 

 same root, sel, was formed Selma, the name of Fingal's 

 HaU, which corresponds to the modern name Belle-vue. 

 The plant is still used in the Highlands, where it is 



