510 



LYCOPODIACEiE. 



Lycopodium. 



Leaves 2-3 lines long, entire, slightly curved ; the lateral rows longest and spreading : 

 those of the under side much shorter. Spikes often solitary, but sometimes as many as 4 or 

 5, about two inches long, tapering at the summit ; the scales cordate-ovate, acute, at first 

 appressed, finally loose. Capsules reniform, sessile. Sporules pale yellow, spherical. 



Shady moist woods and thickets : not rare. Fr. July - August. The two forms of this 

 species, described by most botanists, grow together, and pass into each other by insensible 

 degrees, so that they cannot be regarded as even varieties. 



6. Lycopodium clavatum, Linn. Common Clubmoss. 



Stem creeping, terete, with ascending branches ; leaves scattered, numerous, subulate- 

 linear, entire or rarely denticulate, pointed with a bristle ; spikes pedunculate, 2-3 together 

 (sometimes solitary, rarely 4) ; scales ovate, acuminate, short, erosely denticulate. — Linn, 

 sp. 2. p. 1101 ; Engl. hot. t. 224 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 282; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 652; Bigel. fl. 

 Bost. p. 384 ; Torr. compend. p. 387 ; Hook. <§• Grev. I. c. p. 375 ; Beck, hot. p. 460 ; 

 Darhngt. fl. CesL p. 588; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 267; Spring, I. c. p. 114. L. 

 tristachyum, Pursh, I. c. ? L. integrifolium, Hook, apud Goldie, in Edinb. phil. jour. 



Stem several feet long, terete, much branched, striking root at considerable intervals ; the 

 branches 2-5 inches long, often subdivided, very leafy. Leaves 3-4 lines long, light 

 green, incurved or spreading ; those of the branches mostly entire, those of the prostrate 

 stem usually denticulate, all of them ending in a fine bristle. Peduncles 3-6 inches long, 

 slender, sparsely clothed with slender somewhat appressed leaves. Spikes 1-2 inches 

 long, mostly in pairs, erect ; the scales somewhat membranaceous, at first closely appressed, 

 finally open. Capsules reniform, opening from the apex to the base horizontally. Sporules 

 spherical, pale yellow. 



Dry woods : frequent in the interior of the State, but rare near New-York. Fr. July. A 

 very widely diffused species, being found in many parts of the world. It is chiefly from this 

 species that the spores are collected in great quanties and sold under the name of " Lyco- 

 podium powder," or " Pulvis Lycopodii." This material is used by apothecaries, and is 

 likewise employed for making artificial lightning in theatres. 



ft Branches flatly compressed. 



7. Lycopodium complanatum, Linn. Festoon Ground-pine. 

 Stem trailing ; branches erect or ascending, pedately subdivided, with the branchlets 



flattened and spreading ; leaves in 4 rows, the marginal ones somewhat connate and a little 

 spreading at the tip, the middle rows distinct and appressed ; spikes 2 - 4 on a long common 

 peduncle. — Linn. sp. 2. p 1104 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 283 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 652 ; Bigel. fl. 

 Bost. p. 385 ; Hook. <§• Grev. I. c. ; Torr. compend. p. 388 ; Beck, bot. p. 460 ; Darlingt. 

 fl, Cest. p. 588 ; Spring, I. c. p. 116. 



