Knowra Lycopodium Lycopodium Lycopodium is a genus of evergreen vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. Its species, commonly called clubmosses, have creeping or upright stems bearing small leaves and spore-producing cones.
Lycophyte : A vascular plant lineage that includes clubmosses, quillworts, and spikemosses. Lycopodium belongs to this ancient lineage, distinct from ferns and seed plants.
Strobilus : A compact reproductive structure made of spore-bearing leaves arranged around a central axis. Many Lycopodium species concentrate spore production in club-shaped strobili.
Huperzia : A genus of lycophytes whose spore-producing structures are borne in leaf axils rather than distinct terminal cones. Huperzia is a close lycophyte relative distinguished by its less conspicuous reproductive shoots.
Lycopodium powder : A fine, hydrophobic powder prepared from the spores of clubmosses. The spores of Lycopodium have been collected for their unusual surface and combustion properties.
Vascular plant : A plant with specialized tissues that transport water, minerals, and sugars. Lycopodium has vascular tissues, allowing stems to grow beyond the scale of nonvascular plants.
Sporophyll : A leaf that bears one or more sporangia. Lycopodium sporangia occur on specialized leaves, often grouped into strobili.
Selaginella : A genus of lycophytes called spikemosses, most of which produce two types of spores. Unlike most Lycopodium species, Selaginella is heterosporous.
Dust explosion : A rapid combustion event in which dispersed combustible particles ignite in air. Dispersed Lycopodium spores vividly demonstrate how fine organic dust can burn rapidly.
Microphyll : A small leaf with a single unbranched vein, characteristic of lycophytes. The leaves of Lycopodium are microphylls, a defining feature of lycophyte structure.
Sporangium : A structure in which spores are produced and released. Each fertile sporophyll bears a sporangium where Lycopodium spores develop.
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