Practical
Plants

Lycopodium lucidulum

Shining Club Moss

a member of the Lycopodium genus in the family Lycopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Height
0.15 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.

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, a number of other members of this genus are said to be toxic and so some caution is advised.

Edible uses

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

The plant is edible[2][4].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

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

The plant can be used as a mordant in dyeing[3].

Product or use
Mordant

Environment

Range
N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to South Carolina, Iowa and Tennessee.
Habitat
Cool woods from Newfoundland to Ontario and southwards.
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
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[5]. Layering of growing tips[5].

Cultivation

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

Thrives in a rough spongy peat in a shady position[1]. Requires a humid atmosphere[5]. Terrestrial members of this genus are hard to establish. The roots are delicate and liable to rot, most water being absorbed through the foliage[5]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6]. Although looking more like a moss, this genus is closely related to the ferns[5].

References

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

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  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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

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  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

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