FERNS OP GREAT BRITAIN. 139 



made into an irritating ointment, whicli is rubbed on 

 tlie eyelids with good effect in some diseases of the eye, 

 and an infusion of this Club-moss is considered by the 

 Highlanders a valuable medicine for several disorders; 

 but it should be used with caution, for its properties are 

 powerful, and too large a dose causes giddiness, and 

 even convulsions, while it is sutficiently caustic to serve 

 as a blister to the skin. It is also used in Skye, and 

 some other places, instead of alum, to fix the dye ; and 

 Linnaeus mentions that it is employed by the Swedes to 

 destroy vermin. 



The Fir Club-moss is not difficult of recognition, even 

 to the unpractised botanist. It usually grows, at first, 

 in a much more erect position than any other native 

 species, though, after a time, it becomes in some mea- 

 sure trailing. Its fructification, too, differs from that of 

 the others, not being arranged in terminal catkin-like 

 spikes, but being produced in the axils of the leaves 

 along the upper branches of the stem. The stems are 

 from three to six inches in height ; the plant attaining 

 occasionally, in sheltered situations, a still greater size. 

 One stem only issues from the root, and this is branched 

 two or three times in a forked manner, tiU it forms a 

 cluster, which is flat at the top, and has from six to ten 

 alternate divisions. The branches are very tough and 

 rigid, their thickly crowded leaves overlapping each 

 other. These little lanceolate leaves are acute and 

 glossy, smooth on the edges, very stiff, and of a rich 

 green colour. 



The capsules of fructification are rather large, kidney- 

 shaped, two-valved, and filled with pale yellow minute 



