Lycopodium clavatum explained

Lycopodium clavatum (common club moss,^{[1] [2]} stag's-horn clubmoss, running clubmoss, or ground pine^[3]) is the most widespread species in the genus Lycopodium in the clubmoss family.

Description

Lycopodium clavatum is a spore-bearing vascular plant, growing mainly prostrate along the ground with stems up to 1m (03feet) long; the stems are much branched, and densely clothed with small, spirally arranged microphyll 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 strobili or spore cones turn erect, reaching 5– above ground, and their leaves are modified as sporophylls that enclose the spore capsules or sporangia. The spore cones are yellow-green, 2– long, and 5mm 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.

Distribution

Lycopodium clavatum has a widespread distribution across several continents.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]} There are distinct subspecies and varieties in different parts of its range:

• Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum
  • Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum var. clavatum (Europe, Asia, North America)
  • Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum var. aristatum (Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, northern South America south to northern Argentina)
  • Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum var. asiaticum (Japan, northeast China)
  • Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum var. borbonicum (central and southern Africa)
  • Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum var. kiboanum (mountains of tropical Africa)
• Lycopodium clavatum subsp. contiguum (southern Central America, northern South America; syn. Lycopodium contiguum)

Although globally widespread, like many clubmosses, it is confined to undisturbed sites, disappearing from farmed areas and sites with regular burning. As a result, it is endangered in many areas. In the UK it is one of 101 species named as a high priority for conservation by the wild plant charity Plantlife.

Other common names Common names for this species include wolf's-foot clubmoss, common clubmoss, wolf-paw clubmoss, running ground-pine, running pine,^[3] running moss, princess pine, and others.

UseThe spores of this moss, "lycopodium powder", are explosive if present in high density air. They were used as flash powder in early photography and magic acts.

The plant has been used in Finnish traditional medicine as a diuretic and as a remedy for rickets.^[10]

Active constituentsBioactive secondary metabolites in clubmosses include triterpenoids with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity isolated from this species.^[11]

External links

• Lycopodium clavatum, running ground pine, Flora, fauna, earth, and sky...The natural history of the northwoods
• Bioimagesphotos
• Jepson Manual Treatment, University of California
• Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
• photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Dominican Republic in 1967

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lycopodium clavatum (common clubmoss, running clubmoss): Go Botany. gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. 2019-05-29.
2. Web site: Licopodio, Lycopodium clavatum, Common club moss: Philippine herbal medicines / Stuartxchange. www.stuartxchange.org. 2019-05-29.
3. Bailey, L.H.; Bailey, E.Z.; the staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. Macmillan, New York.
4. Web site: Lycopodium clavatum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. www.efloras.org. 2019-05-29.
5. Web site: Lycopodium clavatum in Flora of China @ efloras.org. www.efloras.org. 2019-05-29.
6. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=lycopodium+clavatum Altervista Flora Italiana, Lycopodium clavatum L.
7. Jørgensen, P. M., M. H. Nee & S. G. Beck. (eds.) 2014. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia, Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 127(1–2): i–viii, 1–1744. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis
8. Mickel, J. T. & J. M. Beitel. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden 46: 1–568
9. Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).
10. Book: Piirainen . Mikko . Piirainen . Pirkko . Vainio . Hannele . Kotimaan luonnonkasvit . Native wild plants . 1999 . 951-0-23001-4 . 18 . fi . Porvoo, Finland . WSOY.
11. Rollinger JM, Ewelt J, Seger C, Sturm S, Ellmerer EP, Stuppner H (2005). Planta Med;71(11):1040-3.