Lycopodium.] XC. LYCOPODIACEiE. 549 



solitary, simple and erect, 1J to 3 inches high, with leaves like those of 

 the stem, but loosely scattered all round. The upper end of the branch 

 is thickened into a fruiting spike, from £ to 1 inch long ; the bracts very 

 like the stem-leaves, but broader at the base. 



In heathy bogs and sandy swamps, dispersed over the greater part of 

 the world, but not recorded from the Arctic regions. Irregularly dis- 

 tributed over various parts of Scotland and England, very rare in Ireland. 

 Fr. summer and autumn. 



XCI. SELAGINELLACE^;. 



Prostrate herbs, with minute imbricating leaves often of two 

 forms, or stemless water-plants with slender leaves. Spore- 

 cases of two forms ; in the former case in the axils of the 

 scales of a spike, in the latter at the bases of the leaves. 

 Spores of two forms ; those in the spike consisting of a minute, 

 powdery dust, the lower containing larger grains. 



[This Order includes one of the Lycopodiums of former editions of 

 this work, together with the genus Isoetes, with which it agrees in the 

 most important character of having two kinds of spores, thus differing 

 from Lycopodiacece.] 



A prostrate moss-like plant. Spore-cases in the bracts of a ter- 

 minal spike 1. Selaginella. 



Stemless plants with long subulate leaves. Spore-cases in the 



dilated bases of the leaves .2. Isoetes. 



I. SELAGINELLA, Beauv. 



Prostrate or ascending, often tufted and moss-like plants with leafy 

 branches. Leaves small, either uniform and imbricating, or of two forms, 

 one large and distichous, the other small and placed on one side of the 

 stem. Spore-cases spiked, 



A very large tropical genus, rare in temperate climates. 



1. S. selaginoides, Gray (fig. 1264). Common S. or Lesser Club Moss. 

 — Stems slender, prostrate, much branched, forming moss-like patches 3 

 or 4 inches in diameter. Leaves spreading, lanceolate, pointed, 1 to 1J 

 lines long, not densely crowded. Fruiting branches ascending or erect, 

 solitary and simple, with rather longer leaves ; those of the spike or 

 fruiting part fully 2 lines long, lanceolate, and bordered with a few fine 

 teeth. Spike § to § inch long. Lycopodium selaginoides, Linn. 



In moist mountain pastures, and wet, stony places, in Europe, Asia, 

 and North America, extending from the Alps and Pyrenees to the Arctic 

 regions. Not uncommon in Scotland, northern and central England, 

 Wales, and Ireland. Fr. summer and autumn. 



II. ISOETES. QUILLWORT. 



Stock very short, rooting at the base, bearing a tuft of linear leaves, 

 the whole plant usually under water. Spore-cases more or less enclosed 



