# tree-clubmosses (*Dendrolycopodium*)

Tree clubmosses are special plants that look like tiny trees! They have green, needle-like leaves and grow in cool, shady places. These plants are very old and have been around for millions of years.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![tree-clubmosses](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lycopodium_dendroideum.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Kirisame, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lycopodium_dendroideum.JPG)

## Appearance

The tree-clubmosses has stiff, branching stems covered in tiny, scale-like or needle-like leaves, giving it a miniature evergreen tree appearance. Its vibrant green foliage often forms dense carpets on the forest floor, visually distinct from true mosses or ferns by its upright, woody texture.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Lycopodiopsida
- **Order:** Lycopodiales
- **Family:** Lycopodiaceae
- **Genus:** Dendrolycopodium

## Interesting facts

- Believe it or not, ancient relatives of tree-clubmosses grew into giant trees during the dinosaur age!
- Some tree-clubmosses create a dense mat on the ground, acting like a natural living carpet!
- These plants have been on Earth for over 400 million years, making them older than most dinosaurs!
- Wow! Tree-clubmoss spores are so tiny and oily, they used to be fire starters for magic tricks!

## Special abilities

- **Spore Shooter:** Tree-clubmosses can release millions of microscopic spores into the wind, helping them spread far and wide to new habitats.
- **Ancient Endurance:** Tree-clubmosses keep their green foliage all year, allowing them to photosynthesize even in winter, helping them grow steadily.
- **Deep Roots Helper:** Tree-clubmosses have a special connection with fungi in their roots that helps them absorb vital nutrients to survive.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-100 cm
- **Spread:** 10-50 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on its evergreen foliage
- **Symbiotic with:** Root Fungus (*Rhizophagus irregularis*) — aids in nutrient absorption for roots
- **Shelter:** Masked Shrew (*Sorex cinereus*) — hides from predators in dense mats

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## 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 to identify tree-clubmosses?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is tree-clubmosses?

10-100 cm

### How wide does tree-clubmosses spread?

10-50 cm

### Is tree-clubmosses edible?

No

### Is tree-clubmosses toxic?

None

### What is tree-clubmosses's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is tree-clubmosses usually found?

Forests

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Tree-clubmosses: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-clubmosses)