LYCOPODIACE^C. 



1021 



Club-mosses, with all the capsules filled with minute powdery granules, 

 which comprise our first five species ; and the Selaginellas, which 

 have capsules of both kinds, and are represented in Britain only by 

 the lesser C. 



Capsules in the axils of the stem-leaves. Stems tufted, 



scarcely creeping 4. Fir C. 



Capsules in terminal spikes. Stems creeping or prostrate. 

 Creeping stems long and hard. Fruiting branches forked 

 or clustered. 

 Leaves about 1 line long, closely imbricated in 4 rows 3. Alpine C. 

 Leaves 2 or 3 lines long, spreading, with fine points. 



Spikes pedunculate, usually 2 or 3 together ... 1. Common C. 

 Spike solitary and sessile above the last stem-leaves 2. Interrupted C. 

 Creeping or prostrate stems slender, 1 to 3 inches long. 

 Fruiting branches simple. 

 Creeping stems slightly branched, with narrow leaves 



all turned up one way 5. Marsh C. 



Prostrate stems much branched. Leaves small, 



spreading 6. Lesser C. 



1. Common Clubmoss. Lycopodium clavatum, Li 

 (Fig. 1243.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 224. 



Stems hard, creeping, 1 to 2 feet long, 

 with ascending forked branches, 1 to 

 3 inches long, all completely covered 

 with the crowded, moss-like, but rather 

 stiff leaves, which are linear, 2 to 3 lines 

 long, including their fine, hair-like 

 points ; those on the creeping stem all 

 turned upwards ; those on the branches 

 imbricated all round. Spikes 1 to 1| 

 inches long, scattering their yellow dust 

 in great profusion, 2 or sometimes 3 to- 

 gether on a peduncle at least as long, 

 bearing small, narrow, yellowish leaves 

 or scales, about half as large as the 

 stem-leaves. 



In hilly pastures and heaths, in cen- 

 tral and northern Europe, Russian Asia, 

 and North America, extending from the 

 Pyrenees and the Alps to the Arctic regions, and in the southern 

 hemisphere. Generally distributed over Britain, but more common 

 in the north. Fr. summer and autumn. 



Fig. 1243. 



