Kensan Devan Sanctuary

About Clubmoss at the

Kensan Devan

Sanctuary

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Q. When is a moss not a moss?
A. When it's a CLUBMOSS!

Clubmosses (Lycopodium) are not mosses but fern allies. They are primitive evergreen plants, having roots, stems and leaves, but no flowers or seeds; like ferns, they reproduce by spores or by underground runners. In ancient Coal Age forests, clubmosses and ferns reached 100 feet tall! Nowadays, of course, they're much more humble in size: miniature versions of once mighty trees.

Clubmosses differ from true mosses (Bryophytes) in that true mosses are much more primitive; they have neither real roots, stems, nor leaves, and cannot store their own food. An example of a true moss on this sanctuary is Hairycap moss, which forms deep, soft carpets of many starry "leaves."

Clubmoss species found at Meetinghouse Pond include Bristly, Wolf's Claw and Tree clubmosses, and the Ground Cedar. Some prefer damp, shady ground, while others grow in dry and sandy habitats. Some look like tiny spruce trees, and others are club shaped.

Because of their delicate beauty and ability to remain evergreen, clubmosses are often overcollected to make Christmas wreaths. Sadly, this practice has led to their disappearance from many woodlands.

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