Practical
Plants

Lycopodium clavatum

Common Club Moss

an evergreen member of the Lycopodium genus in the family Lycopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.1 m
Spread
1 m

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant contains lycopodine, which is poisonous by paralysing the motor nerves[11][13]. It also contains clavatine which is toxic to many mammals[13]. The spores, however, are not toxic[11].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the plant is analgesic, antirheumatic, carminative, mildly diuretic, stomachic and tonic[17][22][4][11][18][5][8][9][13][16]. It is used internally in the treatment of urinary and kidney disorders, rheumatic arthritis, catarrhal cystitis, gastritis etc[9][16]. It is applied externally to skin diseases and irritations[16]. The plant can be harvested all year round and is used fresh or dried[16]. The spores of this plant are antipruritic, decongestant, diuretic and stomachic[17]. They are applied externally as a dusting powder to various skin diseases, to wounds or inhaled to stop bleeding noses[17][20]. They can also be used to absorb fluids from injured tissues[12][13]. The spores are harvested when ripe in late summer[22]. The spores can also be used as a dusting powder to prevent pills sticking together[17][12]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the spores[14]. It has a wide range of applications including dry coughs, mumps and rheumatic pains[14][16].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antipruritic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Decongestant
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The spores are water repellent and can be used as a dusting powder to stop things sticking together[3][7]. They are also used as a talcum powder and for dressing moulds in iron foundries[21]. They can also be used as explosives in fireworks and for artificial lightning[20][18][19][2][7][12]. The plant can be used as a mordant in dyeing[8]. The stems are made into matting[18].

Product or use
Cosmetic
Product or use
Mordant
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
Arctic and N. temperate zone, including Britain, south to Spain, Toumania and the Caucasus.
Habitat
Moorland, fields and pastures[20], it is rare in lowland areas[6].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Spores - best sown as soon as they are ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position. The spores are generally produced in abundance but are difficult to grow successfully[10]. Layering of growing tips[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in a rough spongy peat in a shady position[23]. Requires a humid atmosphere[25].

Terrestrial members of this genus are hard to establish. The roots are delicate and liable to rot, most water being absorbed through the foliage[25]. This species is said to be a native of Britain according to[24], but is a tropical plant according to[25]. Another report says that it is hardy to at least -15°c[27]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[26].

Although looking more like a moss, this genus is closely related to the ferns[25].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩

  3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  7. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  9. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  14. Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3

    ↩1↩2

  15. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  22. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

  23. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

    ↩

  24. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)

    ↩

  25. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  26. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)

    ↩

  27. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)

    ↩

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