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Lycopodiella inundata (L.) Holub.

Northern Bog Clubmoss

Lycopodiaceae (Clubmoss)

Synonyms: Lycopodium inundatum L. The publication of Volume 2 (Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms) of Flora of North America resulted in a number of taxonomic changes for the clubmosses from older floristic references covering the Pacific Northwest.

General Description: Creeping plants with the irregularly-rooting horizontal stems lying flat on the ground. The spreading, upcurved, mostly entire, monomorphic stem leaves are about 5-6 x 0.5-0.7 mm in size. Each plant has one or sometimes two erect, leafy peduncles that get up to about 10 cm tall. The elongate strobili ("cones") are 10-20 x 2.5-5.5 mm in size. The numerous sporophylls are spreading to spreading-ascending, and generally resemble the vegetative leaves.

Illustration.

Field Identification Tips: The strobili are mostly several times long as wide, green, and photosynthetic. They do not look very different from the vegetative leaves. In contrast, most other clubmosses of the Pacific Northwest have strobili with a less elongated shape and sporophylls that are not strongly photosynthetic.

Similar Species: All but one other clubmoss species in the Pacific Northwest can be distinguished from L. inundata by having sporophylls obviously different from the vegetative leaves. The single exception is Huperizia occidentalis (sometimes considered under Lycopodium selago in older regional floristic references). This species has sporangia borne individually at the base of sporophylls that resemble and alternate with the vegetative leaves, not aggregated into a strobili. It also forms gemmiferous branchlets among the leaves. Furthermore, it can be differentiated by its clustered, erect to decumbent stems emanating from roots, not horizontal stems. Huperizia selago (under the name Lycopodium selago in most regional floras) also looks superficially similar, but this species as now interpreted is restricted to northeastern North America. Lycopocium inundatum is further distinguished in northern Idaho by being the only clubmoss species occurring in standing water of peatlands.

Phenology: Producing spores in June and July.

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Habitat: Wet organic soil of nutrient-poor fens in the valley and lower montane zones.

Global Distribution: Western North America, extending from Alaska and the Yukon, south to Oregon, and extending inland to Idaho and Montana.

Idaho Distribution: Most Idaho populations are found in the Idaho Panhandle region. Populations are also known from the Yellowstone area.

References:

Flora North America Editorial Committee. 1993. Flora of North America, Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, Inc., New York. 475 pp.

Montana Natural Heritage Program. Montana rare plant field guide. Available at: http://nhp.nris.state.mt.us.