Lycopodium clavatum L.

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Lycopodiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Lycopodium clavatum L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems prostrate, long-creeping, 1–3 mm diam., sparsely rooting; lateral branches terete, ascending to erect, 4–25 cm long, subdichotomously forked to pinnately branched; leaves appressed to patent, ascending or appressed, 4–8 x 0.3–0.9 mm, spirally arranged, each ending in a hair-tip 1–3 mm long; strobili cylindrical, 1–3 per peduncle, 2–9 cm x 3–5 mm, on erect branches at the end of sparsely leaved peduncles, peduncles simple to 3-times sympodially forked; sporophylls deltate-ovate, margins erose, hair-tips 1–2 mm; 2n=68 (Europe, USA).

  • Discussion

    Type. Uncertain; LINN 1257.2 is this species, but according to Jackson (1912) was incorporated in LINN after 1755. Linnaeus cited several references.P>

    A highly variable species or species complex, L. clavatum s.l. is in need of worldwide revision. Specimens from Mexico seem to exhibit two extremes: (1) Strobili on peduncles 9–16 cm long, peduncle leaves entire to slightly erose, each with scarious tip, 2–4 strobili per peduncle, each strobilus on a separate modified branch of main peduncle, branch leaves spreading to ascending, annual constrictions none or indistinct, 600–2100 m; and (2) strobili sessile or on peduncles to 4 cm long, peduncle leaves erose, each with a scarious tip and distal leaf margins, 1 strobilus per peduncle (rarely 2, then paired at base of strobili, no peduncle branch), branch leaves ascending to appressed, distinct annual constrictions, 2700–3000 m. Intermediate specimens occur with 1–4 strobili on the same specimens, usually with a short peduncle branch for each strobilus; peduncles 4–13 cm; branch leaves ascending to spreading or appressed. These occur at intermediate elevations of ca. 2500 m.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial on banks and exposed slopes, cloud forests, montane rain forests or pine-oak forests, pine-fir forests; 650–3200 m. North temperate regions of North America; Mexico; Guat, Hond, Nic, CR, Pan; Gr & L Ant; Col, Ven, Guy, Sur, Fr Gui, Ec, Peru, Braz, Bol, Parag; n Europe, temperate and tropical regions of Asia and Pacific Basin.

    Mexico North America| Asia| Europe| Paraguay South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Ecuador South America| French Guiana French Guiana South America| Suriname South America| Guyana South America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| West Indies| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| Honduras Central America| Guatemala Central America|