Diphasiastrum alpinum, the alpine clubmoss, is a species of clubmoss.[2] This plant is a glaucous scale-leaved perennial pteridophyte. In Finland, the spores are produced June to September.[3] It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his Flora Lapponica, 1737, from specimens obtained in Finland.

Diphasiastrum alpinum

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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Lycopodiales
Family: Lycopodiaceae
Genus: Diphasiastrum
Species:
D. alpinum
Binomial name
Diphasiastrum alpinum
(L.) Holub 1975
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy
  • Diphasium alpinum (L.) Rothm.
  • Lepidotis alpina (L.) P. Beauv.
  • Stachygynandrum alpinum (L.) C. Presl
  • Lycopodium alpinum L. 1753
  • Diphasium alpinum (L.) Rothm.
  • Lycopodium chamarense Turcz. ex Ledeb.
  • Lycopodium cupressifolium Opiz
  • Diphasiastrum kablikianum (Domin) Dostál

Description

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Diphasiastrum alpinum have 30-50 cm long stems, with 3-5 cm long branches. The stems are upright, 4-edged, growing densely in branchy bunches. The leaves are small, scale-like, wintering and parallel to the stem.[3] The leaves are hollow at the bases.[4] The spore-cases are in sesile, 1-1,5 cm long, densely cylindrical spore cones.[3] The female stems produce strobili up to 3 cm (1 in) long.[5][6][7]

Diphasiastrum alpinum may hybridize with Diphasiastrum sitchense.[4]

Distribution

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It has a circumpolar distribution across much of the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere: much of Canada, the northwestern United States, northern and central Europe, Russia, China and Japan. It is an indicator of alpine tundra and boreal climates.[4] It is found in mountains and moors often with Calluna and grasses.[1][8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Family Lycopodiaceae, genus Lycopodium; world species list". Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
  2. ^ "Diphasiastrum alpinum". Flora of North America. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Piirainen, Mikko; Piirainen, Pirkko; Vainio, Hannele (1999). Kotimaan luonnonkasvit [Native wild plants] (in Finnish). Porvoo, Finland: WSOY. p. 16. ISBN 951-0-23001-4.
  4. ^ a b c Williams, Tara Y. 1990. Lycopodium alpinum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  5. ^ Lycopodium alpinum. Washington Burke Museum.
  6. ^ Flora of North America, Diphasiastrum alpinum (Linnaeus) Holub, 1975. Alpine club-moss, lycopode alpin
  7. ^ Flora of China, Lycopodium alpinum Linnaeus, 1753. 高山扁枝石松 gao shan bian zhi shi song
  8. ^ "Species: Diphasiastrum alpinum (Clubmoss, alpine)". NLBIF. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  9. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map
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