194 
BRITISH FERNS. 
the leaves, or in cones formed of leaf- like bracts. These 
capsules are kidney-shaped, destitute of any ring, lea- 
thery in structure, and sessile ; they consist of one, two, 
or three cells. Some of these capsules contain powdery 
grains, others soft bodies generally supposed to be buds ; 
the former style of seed is present in all Lycopods, the 
latter only in some species. Name from lycos , wolf, and 
podos , foot. 
49. Lycopodium clave, turn, Linn. Common Club- 
Moss* or WolPs-Claw. 
Stem procumbent, very long, branched. Leaves overlapping, 
toothed, with long hairs at the point. Spikes in pairs. Bracts 
triangular, turning back after the seed has escaped, toothed and 
and pointed. 
The common Club-moss is a tough, wiry plant; its 
stems run along the ground for a distance of many feet, 
the branches crossing one 
another and interlacing, so as 
to form a perfect carpet, and 
procure for it in Sweden the 
name of matte-grass . The 
stem throws out pale wiry 
roots at short distances, which 
attach the plant firmly to the 
earth. The narrow leaves, 
each terminating in a long- 
hair, are curved inwards, and 
at once overlap one another, 
and adhere closely to the stem. 
Footstalks arise from the end 
of the lateral branches, from 1 to 3 inches long, bearing 
generally a pair of cones, but sometimes a single one. 
