12 
INTRODUCTION. 
contains from three to five round, slightly tubcrculated grains, many times 
larger than the preceding. That these arc the true sporules of the plant is 
evident from their germination, and Willdenow says that he has seen the 
smaller grains grow also ; if so, they likewise must be spores, but as they arc 
so very different in size and appearance it is supposed that some mistake has 
arisen. Mr. Salisbury in vol. 12 of the Linnsean Transactions, describes the 
germination of one species, which presents strange anomalies, throwing out a 
radicle and plumelet in a manner similar to the monocotyledonous plants, and 
yet appearing immediately afterwards with two leaves, which lie represents as 
cotyledons. 
GEOGRAPHY. — All the British species, except Inundatum are most pre- 
valent in airy, exposed, dry, and mountainous situations. The L. inundatum 
chooses wet moors for its habitation, I have never seen any British species 
except the last and Lycopodium Selago in a state of cultivation, and I believe 
that there would be no great difficulty in making them thrive : but if successful 
they would not add much beauty to the parterre. 
VIRTUES. — Seldom used in medicine, where safer drugs are attainable. 
The Orkney Islanders use L. Selago and clavatum as a cattle remedy; it is 
said to cure sheep of vermin and of different cutaneous disorders ; in the hu- 
man subject it is an emetic and purgative. The Pollen is highly inflammable, 
and was once imported in some abundance from Germany and Sweden to 
imitate lightning, at the theatres, but latterly powdered rosin has been sub- 
stituted. Lycopodium clavatum is said to be valuable in dying woollen cloths, 
and for making mats it is admirable ; and the Poles make a decoction of its 
leaves as a cure for the disorder called Plica polonica. The seeds arc with 
so much difficulty wetted that when spread on the top of the water in a 
basin, a finger may be plunged to the bottom without becoming wet. 
EQUTSETACE.E. 
£ g n is ei-i 
( Comprises only Lycopodium.) 
Lycopodiace^e, Br., Decan., Hook., Lindl., Burn.; — Lycopodine.e, Swz. ; 
Lycopode/e, Spreny.; — Bivalvia, llojfm. ; — Valvat.-e, Web., Mohr .; — 
Stachiotte RIDES, Willd. 
CLASS. — These plants differ widely from all those hitherto described, and 
certainly approach very much nearer to Flowering plants than Ferns them- 
selves. In fact their relation to the Conifer® is so strong both in external 
and internal structure, and their analogy with some other orders so apparent, 
that I continue them among the Fern allies more in accordance with the 
opinion of others than my own. 
