Diphasiastrum digitatum
Encyclopedia
Diphasiastrum digitatum is most commonly known as Groundcedar, along with other members of its genus, but the common name Fan Clubmoss can be used to refer to it specifically. It is the most common species of Diphasiastrum
in North America
. It is a type of plant known as a clubmoss, which is within one of the three main divisions of living vascular plant
s. It was formerly included in the superspecies Diphasiastrum complanatum
. For many years, this species was known as Lycopodium flabelliforme.
Its common name is due to its resemblance to cedar boughs lying on the ground. Its leaves are scale-like and appressed, like a mature cedar, and it is glossy and evergreen. It normally grows to a height of about four inches (10 cm), with the spore-bearing strobili held higher. This plant was once widely harvested and sold as Christmas
greenery, and populations were widely depleted for this reason. However, it has greatly recovered throughout its range, and makes large clonal colonies, carpeting the forest floor.
It prefers disturbed areas and coniferous forest, where it makes dense monocultures. The subterranean, brown gametophytes may live for years in the soil before sending forth vegetative shoots.
This species was also once one of the principal clubmoss species used for collection of Lycopodium powder
, used as a primitive flashpowder.
Diphasiastrum
Diphasiastrum is a genus of clubmosses in the plant family Lycopodiaceae. It is closely related to the genus Lycopodium, and some botanists treat it within a broad view of that genus as a section, Lycopodium sect. Complanata...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is a type of plant known as a clubmoss, which is within one of the three main divisions of living vascular plant
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
s. It was formerly included in the superspecies Diphasiastrum complanatum
Diphasiastrum complanatum
Diphasiastrum complanatum Holub is a species of clubmoss native to dry coniferous forests throughout the Holarctic Kingdom...
. For many years, this species was known as Lycopodium flabelliforme.
Its common name is due to its resemblance to cedar boughs lying on the ground. Its leaves are scale-like and appressed, like a mature cedar, and it is glossy and evergreen. It normally grows to a height of about four inches (10 cm), with the spore-bearing strobili held higher. This plant was once widely harvested and sold as Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
greenery, and populations were widely depleted for this reason. However, it has greatly recovered throughout its range, and makes large clonal colonies, carpeting the forest floor.
It prefers disturbed areas and coniferous forest, where it makes dense monocultures. The subterranean, brown gametophytes may live for years in the soil before sending forth vegetative shoots.
This species was also once one of the principal clubmoss species used for collection of Lycopodium powder
Lycopodium powder
Lycopodium powder is a yellow-tan dust-like powder historically used as a flash powder. It is composed of the dry spores of clubmoss plants, various fern relatives principally in the genera Lycopodium and Diphasiastrum...
, used as a primitive flashpowder.
External links
- USDA Plants Profile: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LYDI3
- Diphasiastrum digitatum in Flora of North America: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500582