LYCOPODIA'CRE, a natural order of acrogenous or cryptogamous plants, somewhat resembling mosses, Ina of higher organization, and by many botanists included among ferns as a sub-order. They have creeping stems and imbricated leaves. The axis con sists entirely, or in great part, of annular vessels; the leaves are narrow and 1.nerved. The them, or spore-cases, are axillary, sessile, 1 to 3 celled, opening by valves; or not at all, and often of two kinds, the one containing minute powdery matter, the other sporules of much larger size, which are capable of germinating. The powdery particles have by some been regarded as antlteridia (see ANTHERIDIUM), but the question of their nature is still involved in uncertainty. The lycopodiacem are most abundant in hot humid situations, especially in tropical islands, although some are found in very .cold climates. About 200 species are known. The only British genus is lyeopodium, of which 6 species are natives of Britain. The most abundant, both in Britain and on the continent of Europe, is the common CLITB-MOSS (L. clavatum), which creeps upon the ground in heathy pastures, with branching stems, often many feet long. A decoction of this plant is employed by the Poles to cure that frightful disease the plica polonica. The yellow dust or meal which issues from its spore-cases, and from those of L. Selago, is col lected and used for producing the lightning of theaters, being very inflammable, and kin dling with a sudden blaze when thrown upon a candle, the combustion taking place so rapidly that nothing else is liable to be kindled by it. It is called lycopode and vegetable
brimstone, and by the Germans, and and It is used for rolling up pills, which, when coated with it, may be put into water with out being moistened. It is sprinkled upon the excoriations of infants, and upon parts affected with erysipelas, herpetic ulceration, etc. It is even used, although rarely, as a medicine in diseases of the urinary organs. The powder of other species is also regarded in Brazil and otl3er countries as possess'ag power over the urinary and generative organs. The stems and leaves of L. clavatam are emetic, those of L. Selago cathartic; a South American species, L. catharticum, is violently purgative, and is administered in cases of elephantiasis. L. Selago is employed by the Swedes to destroy lice on swine and other animals. L. alpinum is used In Iceland for dyeing woolen cloth yellow, the cloth beiug simply boiled with a quantity of the plant and a few leaves of the bog whortle berry. L. complanatum is used for the same purpose in Lapland, along with birch leaves. Many of the lycopodiacem are very beautiful plants, and are much cultivated in hot-houses, green-houses, and fern-cases, in which they grow very luxuriantly.