Club moss: what are they, characteristics and examples

The Lycopodium or licopodios are vascular plants belonging to Pteridophyta or pteridophytes plants . The plants belonging to this classification are characterized, mainly, by presenting sporophiles: leaves with a singular structure that produce spores for the reproduction of club mosses . The sexual reproduction of these plants depends on water. We recommend that you learn more by consulting this other article on Plant reproduction .

In addition, the genus Lycopodium, of the Lycopodiaceae family , is made up of more than 40 species distributed throughout the planet. The habitat of the club mosses is quite wide: from large cities to small and dense forests. These plants do not require very specific care, they only need a humid place, with plenty of shade and rich soil.

In general, club mosses have creeping or erect stems. In addition, these have dichotomous branching and vascular tissue in the center of it. In the case of the leaves, of small size, they are placed in different ways on the stem. It is also important to know that several species of club mosses have medicinal properties that range from the relief and healing of burns to their use against the appearance and elimination of kidney stones.

These are the main characteristics of club mosses :

• Club mosses are one of the oldest vascular plants on our planet.
• One of their main characteristics is that they have tracheids, which they use to conduct water. This is one of the most primitive vascular systems that are still preserved today within the plant kingdom.
• They can reach up to 30 cm in height and are considered herbaceous for the most part, although there are shrub, climbing and even creeping species.
• The leaves of the clubmoss, less than 1 cm long and oval in shape, are characterized by being of the microphilic type. These are small leaves that have a vascular system, xylem and phloem, which does not branch.
• The roots branch dichotomously and are adventitious (they do not originate from the embryo). In plants that are erect, they originate at the apex of the stem and grow until they emerge at the base. Creeping plant roots are produced directly toward the base of the stem.
• The spores produced by club mosses are small and have a very thin cell wall. In addition, they are usually yellowish in color due to the low presence of chlorophyll.
• These plants are generally found in both temperate and tropical zones. Although it is not unreasonable to find them in alpine areas both in the north and in the south of the planet and even in some mountainous areas of the tropics.
• Another of the most representative characteristics of club mosses is that they are homosporic. This means that their sex spores do not differ morphologically.
• For their reproduction, the spores of the clubmosses must rest for a year and have the presence of a fungus for their future development. In fact, the fungus must be infected by the gametophyte itself. This process can take up to 15 years.

To finish discovering this type of ancient plants, we offer you a list of examples of club moss species :

Lycopodium clavatum

This species of club moss is found in Spain and can be found in cities with ease. Hence, it is known as one of the most cosmopolitan species within its genus.

Lycopodiella cernua

It is one of the best-known species of clubmoss and is native to Puerto Rico. It is also typical of other areas near the tropics and is widely distributed throughout the planet both on the island and in medium elevations of land. However, it prefers humid forests

Lycopodium obscurum

This club moss is a species native to the United States. It is easy to find in temperate forests, especially those of conifers and other deciduous trees, which are located in the eastern part of the country.

Lycopodium annotinum

This species is one of the herbaceous-type club mosses that is usually found relatively easily in coniferous forests located in the northern hemisphere of the planet.

Selaginella nickname

Finally, this lycophyte plant, also native to the eastern United States and northwestern Mexico, is another of the most representative and easy-to-see club mosses on the American continent.