ExplorePlants

stag's-horn clubmoss

Lycopodium clavatum

Stag's-horn clubmoss is a green plant that looks like tiny trees with soft, forked branches. It grows in shady places and is very special because it has been around for millions of years!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The stag's-horn clubmoss is a low-growing plant with creeping stems that send up erect, branched stems covered in tiny, scale-like, bright green leaves. Its yellow-brown, club-shaped spore cones resemble miniature antlers, making it visually distinct from true mosses.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLycopodiopsidaOrderLycopodialesFamilyLycopodiaceaeGenusLycopodium
stag's-horn clubmoss
grasslike trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgeevergreen trait badgespore_producing trait badge
stag's-horn clubmoss

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

1

Interesting facts

Despite its name, it's not a true moss; it's an ancient plant related to ferns!

Its powdery spores are so flammable, they were once used in fireworks and flash photos!

This plant is a living fossil, growing on Earth when dinosaurs roamed!

Unlike flowering plants, it reproduces with tiny spores, not seeds, like ancient ferns!

Special abilities

Ability

Spore Power

The stag's-horn clubmoss has tiny, wind-dispersed spores that help it spread far and reproduce without seeds, an ancient adaptation.

Ability

Evergreen Toughness

This clubmoss stays green all year round, even in winter, helping it absorb sunlight when other plants are dormant.

Ability

Creeping Ground Hugger

It has a creeping stem system that helps it form dense mats, anchoring it firmly and protecting the forest floor.

Measurements & details

Height
5-15 cm
Spread
30-100 cm
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Wind

Ecological connections

symbiotic with

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus

Rhizophagus intraradices

helps clubmoss acquire nutrients from soil

eaten by

Red Deer

Cervus elaphus

may browse on its evergreen foliage in winter

shelters

Wood Mouse

Apodemus sylvaticus

provides cover and microhabitat on the forest floor

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify stag's-horn clubmoss?

The easiest way to identify stag's-horn clubmoss is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is stag's-horn clubmoss?

5-15 cm

How wide does stag's-horn clubmoss spread?

30-100 cm

Is stag's-horn clubmoss edible?

No

Is stag's-horn clubmoss toxic?

Mild

What is stag's-horn clubmoss's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is stag's-horn clubmoss pollinated?

Wind

Where is stag's-horn clubmoss usually found?

Forests

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Where to spot

More Plants