Lycopodium lucidulum
Michx.
Shining Club Moss
Neal Kelso
Neal Kelso
Neal Kelso
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves
The plant is edible.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to South Carolina, Iowa and Tennessee.
NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)
How to Identify
Lycopodium lucidulum is a FERN growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
How to Grow
Thrives in a rough spongy peat in a shady position. Requires a humid atmosphere. Terrestrial members of this genus are hard to establish. The roots are delicate and liable to rot, most water being absorbed through the foliage. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Although looking more like a moss, this genus is closely related to the ferns.
Propagation: Spores - best sown as soon as they are ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position. The spores are generally produced in abundance but are difficult to grow successfully. Layering of growing tips.
Other Uses
Mordant. The plant can be used as a mordant in dyeing.
