FAMILY LYCOPODIACEAE
The sporophyte develops a creeping stem 1–2 meters long, repeatedly fork-branched, with ascending twigs and small roots, making the plant easily uprooted. The leaves are sessile, pressed against the stem, and linear-lanceolate. In summer, upright solitary stalks appear at the tips of the lateral ascending branches, ending in two (rarely one to four) spore-bearing strobili. The strobili are covered with imbricated, triangular-ovate, finely pointed sporophylls, at the base of which on the inner side are sac-like sporangia containing numerous spores. In July–August, the strobili turn yellow, the sporangia crack open, and the spores are released.
In the European part of its range, it grows in coniferous forests—pine, spruce, and mixed coniferous-broadleaf forests. In Siberia, it is found in dark coniferous spruce-fir forests, preferring forests with a ground cover of green mosses, where it often forms large thickets. It is widely distributed throughout the forest zones of Europe, Siberia, and the Far East, especially abundant in northern regions; it is absent in Central Asia.
The spores of clubmoss, or lycopodium — Lycopodium — have medicinal applications. The strobili are collected in late July or early August shortly before full ripening. Early in the morning, when dew is still present, the yellowing strobili are cut with special scissors equipped with an attached metal box and placed into bags made of dense (calico) fabric. Uprooting the entire plant is prohibited, as it leads to the depletion of thickets, which regenerate very slowly (over 20–30 years). The collected strobili are dried in the sun, indoors, or in dryers at a temperature not exceeding 40°C. For drying, the strobili are spread on paper or dense fabric, as well as in basins, troughs, and other containers. As they dry, the sporangia burst, releasing the spores. After drying, the strobili are carefully beaten. The resulting powder, consisting of spores, is sieved several times through a fine mesh to remove sporophylls, other parts of the strobili, sand, etc.; the lycopodium is then passed through the finest nylon or silk drum sieve at least three more times. The finished lycopodium is a very fine, pale yellow, free-flowing powder.
The medicinal use of lycopodium as a protective agent is based on its physical properties as an extremely delicate, inert powder that does not absorb water, is non-hygroscopic, and does not cause irritation. It is used as baby powder and for bedsores; in pharmacy—for coating pills.
Creeping species of clubmoss with similar spores are also widely distributed and permitted for harvesting, although their strobili yield less product.
Annual Clubmoss — Lycopodium annotinum L. — is distinguished by spreading leaves and solitary spore-bearing strobili without stalks; it is found in wetter, predominantly pure or mixed forests.
Flattened or Double-edged Clubmoss — Lycopodium complanatum L. (Lycopodium anceps Wallin) develops fan-shaped, flattened branches with scale-like appressed leaves. Its strobili are on stalks, usually 3–4 in number, and it grows in dry pine forests, often among white moss.