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HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS.
whose form is lance-shaped, ending in a point; they are of
a thicMsh texture, and are rounded off at the back and
hollowed out in front where they fit against the stem. On
the dichotomous branches just mentioned the leaves are
closely placed, the lower ones lying over the bases of those
next above them, but they are arranged in four tolerably
regular lines, so as to give a squarish form to their branches.
The httle fascicles of branches are for the most part level-
topped, those which bear spikes of fructification being
somewhat longer than the barren ones and twice dichotomous
; the fruit spikes, which exceed half an inch in length,
are rather thicker than the branch.
The fructifications consist of the little spikes just mentioned,
which terminate a portion of the branches, and are
erect, close, cylindrical, of a yellowish-green colour, and
sessile on the branches, that is, joined to the leafy portion
below, without any intermediate stalk-like contracted part.
The spike consists of a number of bracts closely packed
together, each having in its axil a capsule containing numerous
very minute pale yellowish spores. The bracts are
ovate, dilated at the base, drawn out into a longish point
at the apex, and having the margins toothed. The capsules
themselves, seated quite at the base of the bracts and
close to the axis of the spike, are roundish kidney-shaped,
and of a yellow colour. The bracts become reflexed after
the spores have been dispersed. The plants are firmly fixed
to the soil, by means of tough strong wiry branched roots,
produced at intervals along the prostrate stems.
The head-quarters of this species is in elevated mountainous
tracts. It occurs very abundantly in Scotland and Wales ;
frequently in the hills of the north of England ; and is less
common in Ireland. It also occurs throughout the alpine
districts of Europe and Northern Asia.
The Savin-leaved Club-moss is a bitter plant, with a
somewhat aromatic flavour, and possesses emetic properties ;
it is, however, seldom applied to any use. Sir W. J.
Hooker mentions having seen it used in Iceland as a dye
for woollen cloths, to which it gives a pale and pleasant but
not brilliant yellow. The process is simply that of boiling
the cloth in water, along with a quantity of the Lycopodium,
and some leaves of the Bog Whortleberry.
L yco po d ium a n n o t in um , Linnoeus.— Interrupted Clubmoss.
A very distinct plant, easily recognized by the interrupted
leafing of its stems, the leaves being at intervals
much diminished in size and less spreading in their direc