What is Clubmoss?
{{Taxobox | name = Clubmosses | image = Lycopodium annotinum1.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''[[Lycopodiella cernua]]'' with close-up of branch | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Lycopodiophyta]] | classis = '''Lycopodiopsida''' | subdivision_ranks = Orders}} [[File:Huperzia lucidula.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The shining firmoss, ''Huperzia lucidula'']] '''Clubmosses''' are a group of plants in the [[Lycopodiophyta]], which are the most ancient group of land plants. The clubmosses are an [[Order (biology)|order]] '''Lycopodiales''', (or a [[Subclass (biology)|subclass]] '''Lycopodiopsida'''). Clubmosses are thought to be structurally similar to the earliest [[vascular plant]]s, with small, scale-like leaves, homosporous [[spore]]s borne in [[sporangium|sporangia]] at the bases of the leaves, branching stems (usually dichotomous), and generally simple form. 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. == Taxonomy == The group is now split into two families: *Lycopodiaceae: the typical clubmosses. Their spores are on a club-like structure. Their typical [[chromosome]] count is n=34. *Huperziaceae: the firmosses. Their spore-bearing structures are in the axils of unmodified leaves. The family has a [[basal]] [[chromosome]] count of n=67. {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Vascular plants]] [[Category:Plant taxonomy]]