INTRODUCTION. 
19 
which contain only four large globular spores, analogous to the large spores of 
Isoetes. The germination of the spores has been traced in some of the foreign 
species of Selaginella, and the history of the two kinds is essentially the same as 
that of the two kinds in Isoetes. The larger are true spores, and are fertilized by 
the smaller in the same way, by means of active ciliated filaments. The history 
of the reproduction of the true Lycopodia possessing, only one kind of spore is as 
yet unknown. The majority of our species are in this position ; their (small) 
spores have never been made to germinate.* — A. IT.] 
DISTRIBUTION. — “The Lycopodiacese for the most part affect exposed 
situations on open heaths, or the summits and sloping acclivities of mountains ; 
although without altogether shunning more shady homes. L. selaginoides inclines 
to the most humid situations, growing frequently in the crevices of dripping 
rocks, about waterfalls, and in swampy ground, where water oozes from the sides 
of hills. L. inundatum occurs in analogous situations, on lower or more southern 
heaths and commons. The other, four species choose drier dwelling-places ; 
L. selago and alpinum bearing the rude exposure of the mountain summits ; and 
L. annotinum and clavatum being more frequent on the sloping acclivities than 
on the summits ; but none of these four are exclusively restricted to such 
situations. The order is pre-eminently boreal and alpine, only one species, 
L. inundatum, being at all frequent in the low counties of the south-east of 
England, and decreasing in abundance towards the northern and hilly counties ; 
whilst all the rest prevail in the Scottish Highlands, and decrease in frequency in 
a southward course.” — Mr. Watson’s MS. 
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 human 
subject it is an emetic and purgative. The spores are highly inflammable, and 
were once imported in some abundance from Germany and Sweden to imitate 
lightning at the theatres, but latterly powdered resin has been substituted. 
Lycopodium clavatum is said to be valuable in dyeing woollen cloths, and for 
making mats it is admirable ; and the Poles make a decoction of its leaves as a 
remedy for the disorder called Plica polonica. The spores are wetted with so much 
difficulty that when spread on the top of the water in a basin, a finger may be 
plunged to the bottom without becoming wet. 
MARSILEACEiE. 
( Including only Pilularia.) 
Part of the Marsit.f.ace.e, Br., Brongn., Decan., Hook., Grev. 
Hydro pterides, Willd. 
Rhizosperm.e, Roth. 
Rhizopterides, Mart. 
Radicalia, Iloffm. 
Rhizocarphj, Batsch. 
• See Hofmeister, loc. cit. — A. II. 
