|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
|||||||||
| THE CLUB-MOSS FAMILY | |||||||||
| The club-moss family is well represented in Saskatchewan, particularly in northern regions. These herbs prefer the cool temperatures of the boreal forest. Their roots grow from the underside of the creeping stems. The stems are densely leafy and may be branched. The leaves are ranked, that is, they are in vertical rows. The reproductive structure is the sporangium, or spore sac, which releases spores. In this family, there is only one type of spore. The spore sacs are usually arranged into a cone-like structure called a strobilus. | |||||||||
| SITKA CLUBMOSS | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Diphasiastrum sitchense | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Sitka clubmoss has both horizontal and upright stems which are usually less than 12 cm tall. The roots arise from the underside of the creeping stems. The leaves on the horizontal stems lay flat to the stem and have a blunt tip. The leaves on the upright stems and branchlets lay flat to the stem or are spreading and are in five vertical rows. The tips of these leaves are sharp pointed. The spore sacs are in cones on the upright shoots. The cone leaves are oval to triangular with a rounded tip. The spores are sulphur-yellow. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Sitka clubmoss grows in dry, sandy woods. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern to central Saskatchewan in the Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, Athabasca Plain, Churchill River Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland, and Tazin Lake Upland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Sitka clubmoss is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan. No immediate threats are known but are quite possible in the future. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY SITKA CLUBMOSS | |||||||||
| * Are the spore sacs in cones? * Are the upright stems less than 12 cm tall? * Are the stems and branchlets very leafy? * Did you find it in northern to central Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found Sitka clubmoss! | |||||||||
