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Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| 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. | |||||||||
| NORTHERN CLUBMOSS | |||||||||
| LATIN NAME: Huperzia selago var. densa | |||||||||
| WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? | |||||||||
| Northern clubmoss is less than 12 cm tall and has a very short creeping stem from which the roots arise. The stem is simple below but repeatedly forked upwards. The leaves of the mature portion of the stem are spreading to ascending and are slightly smaller than the leaves of the juvenile portion. The leaves of the young portion of the stem are more reflexed. The leaves can be up to 5 mm long and are widest at the base with a tip that forms an angle of less than 90°. The leaves are green or yellowish-green and shiny. The spore sacs are borne in the axils of the stem leaves instead of in strobili like many other members of this family. The spores are sulphur-yellow. | |||||||||
| WHERE DOES IT GROW? | |||||||||
| Northern clubmoss grows in moist coniferous woods, fens, and organic shores. | |||||||||
| WHERE IS IT FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN? | |||||||||
| This species is found in northern Saskatchewan in the Athabasca Plain, Churchill River Upland, Selwyn Lake Upland, and Tazin Lake Upland ecoregions. | |||||||||
| WHY IS IT RARE? | |||||||||
| Northern clubmoss is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. It is only somewhat regionally restricted and is usually locally numerous within limited areas. No immediate threats are known. | |||||||||
| HOW TO IDENTIFY NORTHERN CLUBMOSS | |||||||||
| * Are the spore sacs in the axils of the leaves? * Are the upright stems less than 12 cm tall? * Are the leaves less than 5 mm long? * Did you find it in northern Saskatchewan? | |||||||||
| If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may have found northern clubmoss! | |||||||||
