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Lycopodium - L.

Common Name Stiff Club Moss
Family Lycopodiaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards The plant contains lycopodine, which is poisonous by paralysing the motor nerves[21, 218]. It also contains clavatine which is toxic to many mammals[218]. The spores, however, are not toxic[21].
Habitats Moors on mountains from 50 - 800 metres in northern Britain[17].
Range Arctic and N. temperate zone, including Britain, south to Spain, the Himalayas and Oregon.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Lycopodium Stiff Club Moss


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:OhWeh
Lycopodium Stiff Club Moss
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of fern
Lycopodium is an evergreen Fern growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from June to September.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The plant has been mixed with clay and used to fill the gaps between logs in log cabins[257]. The plant has been mixed with potting compost to act as a fertilizer and make plants growing in it healthier[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Thrives in a rough spongy peat[1]. Requires a humid atmosphere[200]. Terrestrial members of this genus are hard to establish. The roots are delicate and liable to rot, most water being absorbed through the foliage[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. Although looking more like a moss, this genus is closely related to the ferns[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as they are ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position. The spores are generally produced in abundance but are difficult to grow successfully[200]. Layering of growing tips[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Georgia, Russian Federation (Altay, Buryatia, Chita, Gorno-Altay, Irkutsk, Kemerovskaja oblast, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Tyumen, Tyva, Respublika, Yakutia-Sakha), Russian Federation (Habarovskij kraj, Primorye, Amur, Kamcatskij kraj, Magadanskaja oblast, Sakhalin), China, Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu), Taiwan NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey (north), New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Minnesota (north), Wisconsin (north), Colorado (west), Idaho, Montana (west), Oregon (northeast), Washington, Wyoming (west), Kentucky (east), Maryland (west), North Carolina (west), Tennessee (east), Virginia (west), New Mexico (northwest), Arizona (northeast), Utah) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russian Federation (Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Lycopodium annotinumStiff Club MossFern0.5 -  LMSNM002
Lycopodium campanulatum Fern0.0 3-7  LMFSM011
Lycopodium clavatumCommon Club Moss, Running clubmossFern0.1 10-12  LMFSM033
Lycopodium complanatumGround Pine, GroundcedarFern0.1 3-7  LMFSM032
Lycopodium lucidulumShining Club MossFern0.2 4-8  LMFSM101
Lycopodium obscurumGround Pine, Rare clubmossFern0.5 3-7  LMFSM022
Lycopodium selagoFir ClubmossFern0.3 -  LMFSM121
Lycopodium serratumClub MossFern0.1 -  LMFSM022

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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