Family: Lycopodiaceae — club moss family

Species in the Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss family) are perennial herbs that grow on soil or on rock in our region. They have horizontal stems running along the ground, with upright stems that may be branched or unbranched. They have short, scale-like leaves, and the leaves of a single plant may vary in shape. Sporangia (spore-producing structures) are solitary and are located at the bases of modified leaves in single or multiple strobili (spore cones) at the top of the stem; the strobili may be stalked or unstalked. The sporangia may be spherical or kidney-shaped. They produce spores of one size.

This family’s genera in New England

• Dendrolycopodium
• Diphasiastrum
• Lycopodiella
• Lycopodium
• Pseudolycopodiella
• Spinulum

Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key

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