Lycopodium alpinum : Alpine Club-moss

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Lycopodiopsida (club-moss class)

Family: Lycopodiaceae (Club-moss Family)

Genera: Lycopodium (Club-moss) (Gk.Lyco=wolf+podos=foot in reference to either the branch shoot tips or the roots to a wolfs paw.)

Species: alpinum (Lat. above treeline)

Synonym(s): Diaphasiastrum alpinum

English Name(s):

Alpine Club-moss,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Erect stems round, dichotimously (in twos) forked, up to 9cm high.
• Horizontal stems with few leaves rooting at intervals.

Leaves:

• Yellow, cedar like, grow 4 around stem.

Reproductive Parts:

• Spores produced in strobili (spore cone) sessile (no neck) at tip of stems.

Seed:

• Spores repel water strongly.

Not to Be Confused With:

• L. complanatum (Ground cedar). L. alpinum is distinguished by sessile strobili and rounder branches which can be rolled in your fingers.

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Evergreen

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Alpine and subalpine meadows and wooded alpine slopes

Modern:

Industrial:

• Spores are very rich in oil and are highly flammable.

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: