description
Lycopodium clavatum is part of the clubmoss family Lycopodiaceae. It is a
spore-bearing vascular plant, growing mainly prostrate along the ground with
stems up to 1 m long; the stems are much branched, and densely clothed with
small spirally-arranged leaves.
The leaves are 3–5 mm long and 0.7–1 mm
broad, tapered to a fine hair-like white point. The branches bearing spore
cones turn erect, reaching 5–15 cm above ground, and have fewer leaves than
the horizontal branches. The spore cones are yellow-green, 2–3 cm long and 5
mm broad. The horizontal stems produce roots at frequent intervals along
their length, allowing the stem to grow indefinitely along the ground. The
stems superficially resemble small seedlings of coniferous trees, though it
is not related to these.
common names & nomenclature
Lycopodium (Club-moss) is from the Greek Lyco=wolf + podos=foot in reference to
either the branch shoot tips or the roots to a wolf paw. The species name,
clavatum is from the Latin clava=club, referring to the shape of the strobili
(spore cones).
Also known as:
muscis terrestris repens, vegetable sulphur, wolf's claw, running pine,
princess pine, wolf’s foot clubmoss, staghorn clubmoss, common clubmoss,
wolfpaw clubmoss, foxtail clubmoss, running clubmoss, running moss, running
groundpine, groundpine
