fan clubmoss
ExplorePlants
fan clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
Fan clubmoss is a neat little plant that looks like a green fan! It grows in shady places and is part of a special group of plants called clubmosses. They have been around for a very long time, even before dinosaurs!
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The fan clubmoss has distinct flattened, fan-like branches that resemble tiny, many-fingered hands. Its evergreen foliage is a vibrant deep green, often with a slightly bluish tint, forming dense carpets on the forest floor. It visually stands out with its intricate, layered branching.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLycopodiopsidaOrderLycopodialesFamilyLycopodiaceaeGenusDiphasiastrum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Clubmosses are actually more closely related to ferns than true mosses.
Its tiny spores are so fine, they were once used for camera flash powder!
Some individual clubmoss colonies can live for hundreds of years!
This plant is a living fossil; its relatives grew alongside dinosaurs millions of years ago!
Special abilities
Ability
Evergreen Endurance
Fan clubmoss has tough, evergreen leaves that help it stay green and make food all year, even in cold winters.
Ability
Spore Power
Fan clubmoss reproduces using tiny spores instead of seeds, an ancient plant strategy that helps it spread widely.
Ability
Underground Explorer
Fan clubmoss has creeping rhizomes that help it spread across the forest floor and find new places to grow.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 30-100 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Browses on its evergreen foliage, especially in winter.
shelters
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Uses its dense ground cover for hiding and foraging.
shelters
Silky Ant
Formica subsericea
Ants often forage among its creeping stems and leaf litter.
Traits
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless a grown-up says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is fan clubmoss?
5-30 cm
How wide does fan clubmoss spread?
30-100 cm
Is fan clubmoss edible?
No
Is fan clubmoss toxic?
None
What is fan clubmoss's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is fan clubmoss pollinated?
Wind
Where is fan clubmoss usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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