Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Lycopodium cernuum
Family Lycopodiaceae (Club moss family)
Other Names Club moss, Waiwai'ole
Status Indigenous
Distribution & Habitat Common in the Park's rain forest area and some parts of the mid-elevation woodland (Stone and Pratt 1994: 205).
Locations in this Guide  
General Appearance
This is a sprawling plant that has upright shoots that sometimes reach two to four feet (Stone and Pratt 1994: 205). These long branching stems are covered with scales (Lamoureux 1996: 6).

It is often found growing with uluhe, the false staghorn fern (Dicranopteris linearis).  You will see this association in several of these pictures.

There is a main stem that runs along the ground.  The branching stems are erect.

 Sulfur Banks

Sulfur Banks

 Sulphur Banks

Sulfur Banks

 Sulphur Bank
Leaves
The leaves are soft and curved as bright yellow scales.  They are arranged spirally on the branch. Research Center

Sulphur Banks

 Sulphur Bank
Sporangia
The branch tips turn down.  Cones are found at the end of these branches. These are covered by specialized scales (Stone and Pratt 1994: 205). Sulphur Banks
Sulfur Banks Sulphur Banks

Phenology
Natural History
Conservation
Miscellaneous Photos
Lycopodium mixed in with the dense vegetation at Sulfur Banks. Sulfur Banks
Other Notes There are several club moss species found in the Park. Also, there is some disagreement on their proper names (Stone and Pratt 1994: 205).
References
Links to Other Sites
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Last Updated: 08/05/03

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