104 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
germination of the plant is in reality more nearly allied to that 
of monocotyledons. 
The genus Isoetes is referred by some botanists to the natural 
order Marsileaceae; but it is referred to the present order by 
DeCandolle, Brongniart, and Dr. Lindley. According to M. 
Delile, in Lycopodium the pulverulent thecae, or those pro¬ 
ducing powder, occupy the upper ends of the shoots, whilst the 
granular thecae, or those producing sporules, are situate on the 
lower parts : in Isoetes , the former are found in the centre, and 
the latter near the circumference of its globular mass of repro¬ 
ductive organs. The relative position of these thecae affords a 
good evidence of the affinity of the two genera. Dr. Lindley 
observes: “ If this comparison is good, it will afford some evidence 
of the identity of nature in these thecae, and that the pulverulent 
ones are, at least, not anthers, as has been supposed; for in 
Isoetes , these pulverulent inner thecae have the same organisa¬ 
tion as the outer granular ones, even to the presence of what 
in these latter has been called their stigma.” M. Delile states, 
that in germinating, the sporules of Isoetes setacea sprout both 
upwards and downwards, forming an intermediate solid body, 
which ultimately becomes the stem or cormus; he does not, 
however, state whether these axes take their rise from an uni¬ 
form point, but as no analogy of structure has been discovered 
between these sporules and seeds (as the latter term is strictly 
to be understood), it is probable that they do not. 
The properties of the order are not numerous. Lycopodium 
clavatum is emetic; the decoction is said to be more service¬ 
able than any known means in removing Plica polonica: the 
powder contained in the thecae is frequently used on the stage 
to imitate lightning, on account of its inflammability; for the 
same reason, it is used in the manufacture of fireworks; it is also 
used to prevent excoriation in children. L. selago possesses 
emetic and cathartic properties, acting powerfully, and producing 
serious giddiness and violent convulsions if taken in too large a 
dose : it is employed in the Highlands of Scotland, where it is 
also made into an irritating ointment, and applied with advantage 
to the neighbourhood of the eyes, as a counter-irritant. This 
unguent is also used to dress foul ulcers, and might be used for 
keeping blisters open, instead of savin. According to Linnaeus, 
the Swedes find the decoction serviceable as a detergent lotion, 
and in destroying the vermin infesting swine and other animals. 
