Lycopodium clavatum

Lycopodium clavatum (common club moss,[3][4] stag's-horn clubmoss,[5] running clubmoss,[6] or ground pine[7]) is the most widespread species in the genus Lycopodium in the clubmoss family.

Lycopodium clavatum

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Lycopodiales
Family: Lycopodiaceae
Genus: Lycopodium
Species:
L. clavatum
Binomial name
Lycopodium clavatum
Synonyms[1][2]

Description

Lycopodium clavatum is a spore-bearing vascular plant, growing mainly prostrate along the ground with stems up to 1 m (39 in) 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 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) above ground, and their leaves are modified as sporophylls that enclose the spore capsules or sporangia. The spore cones are yellow-green, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) long, and 5 mm (0.20 in) 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.

Close-up of strobili

Distribution

Lycopodium clavatum has a widespread distribution across several continents.[8][9][10][11][12][13] There are distinct subspecies and varieties in different parts of its range:

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,[7] running moss, princess pine, and others.

Use

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

Active constituents

Bioactive secondary metabolites in clubmosses include triterpenoids with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activity isolated from this species.[14]

  • L. clavatum ssp. clavatum var. clavatum, with strobili
  • L. clavatum with strobili
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References
  1. The Plant List, Lycopodium clavatum L.
  2. "Family Lycopodiaceae, genus Lycopodium; world species list". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  3. "Lycopodium clavatum (common clubmoss, running clubmoss): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  4. "Licopodio, Lycopodium clavatum, Common club moss: Philippine herbal medicines / Stuartxchange". www.stuartxchange.org. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  5. "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  6. "Lycopodium clavatum". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. 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.
  8. "Lycopodium clavatum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  9. "Lycopodium clavatum in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  10. Altervista Flora Italiana, Lycopodium clavatum L. includes photos and European distribution map
  11. 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
  12. Mickel, J. T. & J. M. Beitel. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Memoirs of The New York Botanical Garden 46: 1–568
  13. 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).
  14. Rollinger JM, Ewelt J, Seger C, Sturm S, Ellmerer EP, Stuppner H (2005). Planta Med;71(11):1040-3. PMID 16320206
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