Lycopodiopsida
The class Lycopodiopsida includes the clubmosses. These plants are often loosely grouped as the fern allies. The Lycopodiopsida traditionally included all the clubmosses, including
Selaginella and
Isoetes. However, subdivisions within the Division
Lycopodiophyta are now considered ancient enough to warrant higher-level separation in accordance with
cladistics.
The clubmosses are thought to be structurally similar to the earliest vascular plants, with small, scale-like leaves, homosporous
spores borne in
sporangia at the bases of the leaves, branching stems , and generally simple form.
Encyclopedia
The class
Lycopodiopsida includes the clubmosses. These plants are often loosely grouped as the fern allies. The Lycopodiopsida traditionally included all the clubmosses, including
Selaginella and
Isoetes. However, subdivisions within the Division
Lycopodiophyta are now considered ancient enough to warrant higher-level separation in accordance with
cladistics.
The clubmosses are thought to be structurally similar to the earliest vascular plants, with small, scale-like leaves, homosporous
spores borne in
sporangia at the bases of the leaves, branching stems , and generally simple form.
The Class Lycopodiopsida as interpreted here contains a single living order, the Lycopodiales, and a single extinct order, the Drepanophycales.
Order Lycopodiales
There are two major groups of large clubmosses: the
Lycopodiaceae and the
Huperziaceae. The
Family Lycopodiaceae comprises the extant genus,
Lycopodium is a genus [i] of clubmoss [i]es, also known as
ground pines, in the family Lycopodiaceae [i]...
, which includes the Wolf's-foot clubmoss,
Lycopodium clavatum, Ground-pine,
Lycopodium obscurum, Southern ground-cedar,
Lycopodium digitatum, and other species. Also included are species of
Lycopodiella is a genus [i] in the clubmoss [i] family [i] Lycopodiaceae [i]. ...
, such as the Bog clubmoss,
Lycopodiella inundata. Most of the
Lycopodium favor acidic, sandy, upland sites, whereas most of the
Lycopodiella favor acidic, boggy sites.
The other major group, the
Family Huperziaceae, are known as the
firmosses. This group includes the genus
Huperzia, such as the Shining firmoss,
Huperzia lucidula, the Rock firmoss,
Huperzia porophila, and the Northern firmoss,
Huperzia selago. This group also includes the odd, tuberous
Australasian plant
Phylloglossum, which was, until recently, thought to be only remotely related to the clubmosses. However, recent genetic testing has shown it to be very closely related to the genus
Huperzia.
A powder known simply as
lycopodium, consisting of dried spores of the common clubmoss, was used in Victorian theater to produce flame-effects. A blown cloud of spores burned rapidly and brightly, but with little heat. It was considered safe by the standards of the time.
See also
