Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/750

LYCOPHRON LYCOPODIUM LTCOPHROJf, a Greek poet and grammarian of the 3d century B. 0., born in Euboean Chal- cis, died in Alexandria. He stood high in the favor of Ptolemy Philadelphia, and was one of the seven contemporary poets, termed from their number Pleiades, who graced the court of that monarch. Ptolemy intrusted him with the classification of the works of the comic poets contained in the Alexandrian libra- ry. Lycophron likewise composed a work on the history of Greek comedy and comic poets. Suidas has preserved the titles of 20 of his tragedies, while Tzetzes makes their number more than 60, of all which, however, only four lines remain. One of his poems is still extant, "Cassandra" or "Alexandra," a long iambic monologue, whose obscurity has become pro- verbial. The earliest edition of " Cassandra " is that of Venice (1513). The best editions are those of Potter (Oxford, 1697), and Bach- mann (Leipsic, 1828). It has been translated into English by Lord Royston. LYCOPODIUM (Gr. M/co?, a wolf, and irovs, a foot, a name of obscure application), the bo- tanical name for a genus of cryptogamous plants popularly known as club mosses ; this with a few other genera make up the family lycopodiacem, in which some botanists include two singular aquatic genera : pillwort (pilula- ria), and quillwort (isoetes). The lycopodiums are low perennials having something of the habit of the true mosses ; their evergreen, one- nerved leaves are crowded upon the stems in from four to several ranks ; the rather large spore cases {sporangia) are usually kidney- shaped, and placed either in the axils of the upper stem leaves, or at the base of broad bract-like leaves which are collected into a dis- common Club Moss (Lycopodium clavatum). tinct spike; each spore case opens by means of a slit in two valves, and emits the spores in the form of a copious sulphur-colored powder. The germination is believed to be through the agency of a prothallus, as in ferns, but this is not well determined. The club mosses are found in all parts of the world, some growing in high arctic latitudes, while others, and the finest species, occur in the tropics. East of the Mississippi there are nine species, with some well marked varieties ; one of the best known of these is the one chosen for illustra- tion, the common club moss, L. clavatum, which is widely distributed, and is found also in Europe and northern Asia. It has a strong creeping stem 1 to 2 ft. long, from which arise ascending, forked branches, 1 to 3 in. long ; the whole plant is covered with small moss- like leaves, which have fine bristle-like points ; the spikes are usually two or three together, 1 to 1^ in. long ; the bracteal leaves about half as large as the stem leaves. The plant had formerly a reputation as a remedy in diseases of the bladder, and is now of considerable importance on account of its spores, which are known in commerce as lycopodium ; when the spore cases are well formed, the plant is col- lected and dried, and the spores can then read- ily be separated by shaking and sifting ; when examined by a microscope, the spores appear as spheroids upon a portion of the surface of which are three faces uniting to form a three- sided pyramid. In the mass the spores appear as a very mobile powder, which when rubbed between the fingers has a remarkably smooth feel ; sprinkled upon the surface of water, ly- copodium floats, and the hand may be dipped in water thus covered without its being mois- tened. In pharmacy lycopodium is used to prevent the adhesion of pills, and in medicine it is sometimes applied to excoriated surfaces ; it is used in pyrotechny, but its chief consump- tion is for the production of artificial light- ning for theatrical representations ; when dif- fused the powder is very inflammable, and a cloud of it shaken into the air near a flame burns with a rapid flash. Some is collected in this country, but the greater quantity is im- ported from Europe. The most showy of our club mosses is L. dendroideum, its tree-like habit being recognized in its botanical name as well as in its popular one of ground pine ; in this the stems arise from a subterranean, creep- ing root stock, and are from 6 to 9 in. high and branched above, the crowded fan-lil^e branches spreading and clothed with very small leaves, giving the plant much the appear- ance of a miniature coniferous tree ; it is found in moist woods, and in some localities is quite abundant. The delicate character of the plant and its fine dark green color make it valued by florists for use in constructing bouquets and floral decorations ; it is an article of com- merce under the name of bouquet-green, and many barrels are sent from the southern coun- ties of New Jersey to New York and thence to all parts of the country ; kept in a cool cel- lar where it will not dry up, it preserves its freshness for several months. Another species, L. complanatum, has very extensively creep- ing stems, several feet in length, along which arise numerous fan-like branches, which are