Name: |
- Diphasiastrum, from the generic name Diphasium, and astrum,
"inferiority or partial resemblance", hence, "false Diphasium"
- complanatum, from the Latin, "flattened"
- Ground Cedar, from the resemblance of its scale-like leaves to those
of the Cedars
- Other common names include: Creeping Jenny, Ground Pine, Running Pine,
Running Cedar, Christmas Green, Trailing Evergreen, Issler's Clubmoss
(UK), Plattlummer, Jämna (Swe), Skogjamne
(Nor), Flad Ulvefod (Dan), Keltalieko (Fin), Gewöhnlicher
Flachbärlapp (Ger)
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Taxonomy: |
- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Lycopodiophyta, the Clubmosses
- Class Lycopodiopsida, the Clubmosses
- Order Lycopodiales, the Clubmosses
- Family Lycopodiaceae, the Clubmosses
- Genus Diphasiastrum, the Ground Cedars
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 17025
- Also known as Lycopodium complanatum, Diphasium anceps,
Diphasium complanatum, Diphasium complanatum ssp. montellii,
Diphasium wallrothii, Lycopodium anceps, Lycopodium
complanatum ssp. anceps, Lycopodium complanatum var.
canadense
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Description: |
- A creeping, evergreen, rhizomatous clubmoss; growing in tangled masses
with occasional erect branches topped with slim cones. Height to 10"
- Vertical stems multi-branched
- branchlets blade-like and flat in cross section
- annual growth constrictions common
- Horizontal stems at or just below surface of ground.
- Cones cylindrical, 2½", in upright candelabra-like clusters
of 1-4.
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Identification: |
- Identifiable as a Ground Cedar (Diphasiastrum
species) by its scale-like leaves.
- Distinguished from Blue Ground Cedar (Diphasiastrum
tristachyum) by its blade-like ultimate branchlets, flat in
cross section. The Blue Ground Cedar has cord-like ultimate branchlets
which are square in cross section.
- Distinguished from Fan Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum
digitatum) by its very irregular and tangled branching. The
branches of Fan Clubmoss form regular fans.
- Field Marks
- branches irregular and tangled in form
- branchlets blade-like with flat cross section
- medium green, not blue green in color
- shallow rhizome
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Distribution: |
- Circumboreal, Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Washington, Montana,
and Pennsylvania.
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Habitat: |
- Moist shaded coniferous woods, roadsides, thickets, rocky places
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Fire: |
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Associates: |
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History: |
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Uses: |
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Reproduction: |
- Clonal, reproducing primarily by sprouting from rhizomes. It also
produces spores and a subterranean, mycorrhizal gametophyte.
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Propagation: |
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Cultivation: |
- Clubmosses can make attractive ground covers, but they do not transplant
well
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Links: |
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Comments: |
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Last Updated on
26 February, 2004
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