Lycopodium
(from lykos, a wolf, and pous, a foot; the roots have a resemblance to a wolf's paw). Club Moss. ORD. Lycopodiaceae. A genus of about 100 species of stove, greenhouse, or hardy perennial plants, allied to Selaginella, but distinguished from that genus by the coniferous habit, and the single form of capsules. The leaves vary from mere threads to imbricated scales. Lycopodiums may be distinguished by the following characters: Capsules axillary, solitary, sessile, roundish, one-celled, some two-valved, including a powdery substance; others three-valved, containing a few large grains or spores. This genus contains numerous very handsome plants for Wardian or other fern cases. As a rule, they thrive in a rough, spongy peat. The native species are also very pretty plants for conservatory or Wardian case culture; they should be shaded from the sun. See also Selaginella.
L. alpinum (alpine). Stems prostrate. Branches in tufts, erect, forked, level-topped. l. acute, keeled, imbricated in four rows; spikes terminal, solitary, sessile, cylindrical, their leaves broadly-lanceolate, flat. Europe, &c. (Britain). A very pretty evergreen species, about 4in. high, and of a bright green colour.
L. annotinum (year-old). Stems decumbent at the base. Branches ascending, forked. l. in five rows, narrow-lanceolate, acute, minutely serrate; spikes cylindrical, solitary, sessile. Northern hemisphere (Britain). A distinct and pretty species, 6in. to 8in. high, easily distinguished by its branches being constricted here and there.
L. cernuum (drooping). Stems from 8in. to 2 1/2ft. high. Branches much-forked. l. distant, somewhat acicular, bright light green. Tropics. A very handsome stove species, somewhat difficult to cultivate successfully; it varies considerably under different conditions, but usually only in the height and in the density of its branches. This species should have a compost of loam, peat, and limestone--fully two parts of the latter--and be well drained. L. clavatum (club-shaped). Common Club Moss. Stems creeping, branched, 1ft. to 3ft. long. Branches ascending. l. crowded, narrow-lanceolate, incurved, hair-pointed; spikes in pairs, cylindrical, stalked, with ovate, membranous leaves. Arctic and North and South temperate and cold regions (British Isles), &c. A handsome plant.
L. dendroideum (tree-like).* Stems erect, much-branched, growing to a height of from 6in. to 9in. l. small, bright shining green; spikes yellow, long, cylindrical, erect. North America (in moist woods). A very pretty hardy plant, resembling, when growing vigorously, a miniature Spruce Fir. It makes an excellent plant for rockwork, if grown in a deep bed of moist sandy peat, with full exposure to the sun. It may be propagated by sowing the spores in a rather shady spot and on a perfectly level surface.
L. densum (dense). Stems erect, slender, much-branched. l. numerous, dense, short, sharp-pointed, bright green. Australia. A very handsome greenhouse plant.
L. Hookerii (Hooker's). Stem erect, several times divided towards the base; on each division hangs a bunch of slender catkins, from three to five in number, also branched, and some 4in. long, bearing the sporangia, giving the plant a very pleasing and novel appearance. l. bright shining green, nearly 1in. long. h. 2ft. or more. East Indies. A very handsome stove, evergreen, epiphytal species, requiring to be grown in peat, and suspended so that the plant hangs downwards.
L. Phlegmaria (Phlegmaria).* This species is closely allied to L. Hookerii, but not nearly so robust; the contracted fertile catkins, being more elegant and more slender than those of L. Hookerii, give the plant a beautiful tasselled appearance. Tropics. A stove evergreen epiphyte. L. scariosum (scarious). Stems from 9in. to 2ft. high, rigid, branched, erect; branches flattened, the leaves situated on each side and decurrent with it, light green; spikes or fertile catkins 2in. to 3in. long, brown, imbricated, numerously disposed on slender, upright stems, 3in. to 4in. high. New Zealand. A rare and handsome, terrestrial, greenhouse species. L. Selago (Selago). Fir Club Moss. Stems erect, 3in. to 4in. high, forked. Branches level at the top. l. in eight rows, uniform, narrow-lanceolate, acute, entire. Temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres (British Isles). L. taxifolium (Yew-leaved).* Stems thickly clothed with bright green, acuminate leaves, about 1/2in. long. h. 9in. to 12in. Jamaica. A very handsome stove species; the ends of its branches are swollen, and the sporangia situated at the base of the leaves. It must be suspended head downwards. (B. H. 1871.) L. uliginosum (swamp-loving). Stems slender, much-branched. l. small, very closely set, bright dark green. h. 6in. Australia. A pretty greenhouse species, thriving well in peat and sand, and with plenty of drainage. L. verticillatum (whorled). Stems several times forked. l. in whorls round the stem, 1/4in. long, acuminate, dark green. Mauritius. A very handsome, procumbent, stove species, growing from 10in. to 20in. long.