Lycophyta

Diversity is Medium to Low. There are only Six Genera but thare are 1000 Species.

The Genus to remember is Lycopodium.

Their Distribution is world-wide and they occur in virtually all climatic zones which include Tropical,Temperate & Arctic regions.

They are small plants and are generally no longer than a meter high. Some pendant Epiphytes exceed this length but their stems are not providing the physical support for these stems to become upright.

There are erect forms, some of which resemble dwarf Conifers & have been called "Ground Pine". Some species produce extensive Rhizomes and Stolons which cover many meters on the ground.

One local species L. ... has a complex growth form which contains almost all of the features that a Lycopod could desire.

They are generally not major components of the ecosystems in which they are found. However, there are some circumstances in which they are the dominant vegetation component.

One locally important species L. cernuum (->) colonizes distrubed sites. This is a species which needs further study because attempts to revegetate disturbed sites should use native plants that can survive and "pave" the way for later species. I saw an attempt to plant pine trees on a badly eroded ridge site. This is probably the worst possible species to plant because it is ill adapted to survive, it is an "alien" species and it inhibits the growth of most other plants once it is established. It would have made a lot more sense to introduce the local Lycopodium which grows on disturbed sites at the same altitude.

Pendant Lycopodium the long terminal structures are Cones.

Large Pendant Epiphytic Lycopodium from Puerto Rico.

Small upright Lycopodium with the Moss Polytrichum from New Hampshire

Small Lycopodium growing in the Arctic-Alpine zone Jasper Canada

L. cernuum near the Pali Overlook (Oahu)

L. cernuum has a Stolon which is a horizontal, above ground stem. Erect Branches and Roots arise from the Stolon