52 FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



very similar lines to that which can be observed 

 in the case of Selaginella. A few of the club 

 mosses have other means of increasing their 

 kind. This consists in the production of small 

 "bulbils," which are of a delicate green colour. 

 These sometimes arise in the place of the spor- 

 angia, and when they are fully developed fall 

 off and finally give rise to new plants. 



For those who wish to study the curious 

 reproductive scheme of the club mosses a 

 quantity of the spores of Lycopodinm and 

 Selaginella may be scattered on soil which has 

 been sterilised by baking in an oven. The 

 treatment of the soil is necessary by reason 

 of the fact that the prothalli of club mosses 

 seem to be peculiarly liable to the attacks of 

 mould fungi. The soil should be in a moist 

 condition at the start, and then, if the pan is 

 covered with a glass shade, little further water 

 will be required. In the case of the Selaginella 

 it is necessary to sow both kinds of spores. 



Naturally many of the points in the ger- 

 mination of the spores of club mosses are on an 

 exceedingly small scale and somewhat difficult 

 to follow. To those who are really interested 

 in the subject it may be suggested that an 



