Fun Facts about Clubmoss

1. Ancient origins: this evergreen species originated about 410 million years ago, long before trees, flowers or dinosaurs, and yet between 300 and 400 species of clubmoss still exist today.
2. Once were giants: 300 million years ago, these plants grew as tall as 135 feet in the swamps of the Carboniferous period, playing the role of trees in earth’s early biosphere.
3. Today are dwarfs: you can find clubmoss free-standing (rarely taller than 20 cm) or as a creeping vine. The scientific name is lycopodium or “wolf’s foot” because the root has a claw-like shape. 
4. No flowers: like their allies, ferns and horsetails, clubmoss are vascular plants that do not flower. They produce spores instead of seeds. 
5. Explosive candles: the spores of clubmoss, located in the candle-like structures at the top of the plant, ignite with a bright flash of light. For ceremonies, native medicine men tossed the spores into fires. The spores were also used in Victorian stage productions to produce showy flame-effects.