COMMON LYCOPODIUMS OF P.E.l. 
     
    
   
   
    
     To complement Lawrence Watson‘s 'timely' article on Christmas greenery, below 
     
     is presented a selection of eight club-mosses or Lycopodiums commonly found on 
     
     Prince Edward Island. Since relatively few members of the Lycopodiaceae family 
     
     are found in north—eastern North America, it is not at all difficult to become 
     
     familiar with all of our local species. Keep your eyes open the next time you 
     
     go walking, and become better acquainted with a fascinating little group of plants 
     
     which we too often overlook in our preoccupation with the showier woodland ferns 
     
     and wildflowers. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Lycgpodium flabelliforme or E. complanatum — 
     
     FAN-SHAPED CLUB-MOSS 
     
    

    
     This plant grows in the form of a little tree. The 
     
     creeping stem is generally above ground. Branches 
     
     are dark green and flattened, with tiny leaves 
     
     almost reduced to a triangular point. The secondary 
     
     branches are somewhat fan-shaped. The main branches 
     
     are almost opposite each other along the upright 
     
     stem, with successive ascending pairs arranged in a 
     
     spiral. Clusters of up to four or five spikes are 
     
     set on top of long stalks with few leaves. Spores 
     
     mature in October. Fan-shaped club-moss grows in 
     
     mixed woods, pastures, sandy soil or spruce woods. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Lycopodium flabelliforme 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Lycopodium tristachyum - THREE-SPIKED CLUB-MOSS 
     
    

    
     This tree—like plant grows from a deeply buried root- 
     
     stalk. Branches are stiff, narrow, erect and flattish. 
     
     Leaves have a bluish cast. Branching from the main stem 
     
     is irregular. There are constrictions present at 
     
     intervals on the branches marking the end of each year's 
     
     growth. The spikes, which mature in early August, grow 
     
     in clusters on long leafless stalks. Three-spiked club- 
     
     moss needs light and grows in sandy places, light or 
     
     gravelly soils, dry barrens and sandy woods. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Lycopodium tristachyum 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     IO