Lycopodium clavatum aka Ground Pine

Lycopodium clavatum belongs to the clubmoss family. It is an evergreen perennial: it stays green and lives for years. It looks like a fern but is not a true fern. People call it running clubmoss or common clubmoss. Its native range spans the temperate Northern Hemisphere and tropical mountains. It also grows in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Small, scattered groups grow in tropical Africa and Asia. It is native to Britain and Ireland. In the wild, it grows on moors, heaths, and pastures. It also grows in clearings in woods.

Its main stem branches and creeps along the ground. Roots grow at spaced points along this stem. Main stems can reach 4.9 feet [1.5 metres] long. Upright shoots grow in groups above the main stems. North Carolina State lists shoots at 0.5–0.7 feet [0.15–0.20 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants gives a taller height for shoots. They can reach 2 feet [0.60 metres]. Small green leaves give the plant a fine texture. The soft, narrow leaves look like needles or scales. Their edges are smooth, and they have no hairs. Some plants form tight clumps; others spread in loose forms.

The plant makes spores, not flowers or fruit. Its yellow-green cones bear spores from July to September. North Carolina State gives cone lengths of 0.17–0.5 feet [0.05–0.15 metres]. The leaves stay green through the year. The plant forms low cover and draws small mammals. People have grown it for its looks and as animal food. Yet North Carolina State says not to plant it in home gardens. It grows at a slow pace and does not transplant well.

Part shade suits it; one source also lists deep shade. PFAF favours shade with patches of light over very dark sites. It prefers moist, acid soil that drains well. Sandy soil and humid air suit its needs. It can cope with some dry soil. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 2–8. PFAF reports hardiness to at least −15°C. It is hard to grow plants from spores. Growers can also layer growing tips to make new plants. North Carolina State reports no known pests or diseases.

No source lists any known edible uses. The plant has poisons that affect nerves and harm mammals. People have used it as medicine and skin powder. These past uses do not prove it is safe. Sources call the spores non-toxic. Yet repeated contact with the powder can cause allergies or asthma. Useful Tropical Plants also reports liver effects and wound lesions. Spores repel water, and people have used them as dusting powder. Other uses include fireworks, foundry moulds, and dyeing. People have also used stems to make matting.