Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species on p. 1102 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; [and] 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 perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb erigo, erigere, erexi, erectus; modifies caule
[and]	[added for smoother reading]
fastigiate;	fastigiato - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective fastigiatus, -a, -um
[and]	[added for smoother reading]
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