232 



branches mostly terete, dichotomously or pinnately branched, leafy 

 throughout. 



These are the true club -mosses, and their aspect, except in a few in- 

 stances, is very different from that f their allies the ^Selaginellas, from 

 which they are technically distinguished by having o Jy one kind of 

 spores and spore-capsules. They number about a hundred species, which 

 are spread over the torrid and warmer regions of the globe, but most 

 concentrated in the equatorial belt. Some of the species range widely 

 in both the old and new worlds. They are divided in their habits of 

 gro\\th into two divisions — terrestrial and epiphytal, though in regard 

 to some few species the line is not st ictly drawn Trie for ner grow 

 in moist ground generally, either open to the direct sunlight or in forest 

 shade. Two or three species, however, appear to prefer well-d ain d 

 ground. Both are erect, or prostrate in growth, and more or less gre- 

 garious. Of the epiphytal, some are strictly pendent, others have a 

 tendency to be pendent with tho gradual lenthening of t leir weak 

 flexible bran(hes, while still maintaining vertical growth. These 

 generally giow in forests on the branches of trees. rhe spores of 

 clavatum and L selago are highly inflammable, and ar sometimes em 

 ployed under the name of vegetable brimstone in fireworks. 6oaie fo A' 

 species are known to be purgative and others emetic 



Fructification in dense, terminal, catkin-like spikes. 

 Spikes on slender peduncles. 



Leaves dimorphous, branches flat with a distinct upper and un- 

 der side. 



1. L. scariosum. 



2. L. complanatum. 



Leaves all conform ; branches cylindrical. 



3. L. clavatum. 



Spikes sessile on normal branches. 



4. L. cernuum. 



Fructification in the unmodified outer parts of the branches 

 Leaves subulate. 



5. L. verticellatum. 



6. L. reflexum. 



7. L. intermedium. 



8. L. dichotomum. 



Leaves broader. 



9. L liniiolium. 

 10. L. taxifolium 



L L. scariosum^ Forst, var. L Jussicei, Desv. — Coriaceous, stiff, light- 

 green and rather glossy above, paler and duller beneath ; stems terete, 

 2-3 or more ft. 1., a line thick, stiff, prostrate, often forked from the 

 base, clothed laxly with minute lacerate-edged leaves, distantly altern- 

 ately pinnate ; branches pinnate ; branchlets forkeJ 1-2 or more times; 

 divaricating flat, Jin. w. l|-4 in. L; leaves of two kinds, the larger 

 superior, 2> serial, spreading laterally, li. 1. f li. br, flat, close, spread- 

 ing, oolong-dimidiate, the base adnate-decurrent, upper edge nearly 

 straight, the lower up curved to an acute point ; smaller inferior minute 

 linear lanceolate^ appressed to the underside, 2-3 -serial, lax, pale and 



