Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species on p. 1040 of Species Plantarum as Lycopodium selago.
[research needed]
1801: Bernhardi in the Journal of Botany (Schrader). 1800(2): 126. 1801
today: The current name for this species is Huperzia selago (L.) Bernh. ex Mart. & Schrank.
original Latin description
Lycopodium foliis sparsis octifariis, caule dichotomo erecto fastigiato, floribus sparsis.
English translation
Lycopodium with leaves sparse/scattered [and] eight-ranked; with a stem dichotomous, erect, [and] fastigiate; with flowers sparse/scattered.
English translation with commentary
Lycopodium | Lycopodium |
with leaves | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
sparse/scattered | sparsis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective sparsus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
[and] | [added for smoother reading] |
8-ranked; | octifariis - combining form of octo plus ablative plural neuter of group A adjective -farius, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
with a stem | caule - ablative singular of 3rd declension masculine noun caulis, caulis |
dichotomous, | dichotomo - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective dichotomus, -a, -um; modifies caule |
erect, | erecto - ablative singular masculine of present active participle of erigo, erigere, erexi, erectus; modifies caule |
[and] | [added for smoother reading] |
fastigiate; | fastigiato - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective fastigiatus, -a, -um |
with flowers | floribus - ablative plural of 3rd declension masculine noun flos, floris [That the strobilus is not a flower or inflorescence was not known in Linnaeus’s time.] |
sparse/scattered. | sparsis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective sparsus, -a, -um; modifies floribus |