Staghorn clubmoss

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Palhinhaea cernua
• Lepidotis cernua
• Lycopodiella cernua var. caboverdeana
• Lycopodiella cernua var. sikkimensis
• Lycopodium cernuum f. sikkimense
• Lycopodium cernuum
• Lycopodium cernuum var. panamense
• Lycopodium cernuum var. watsonianum
• Lycopodium heeschii
• Lycopodium marianum
• Lycopodium secundum
• Lycopodium sikkimense
• Palhinhaea brevibracteata
• Palhinhaea capillacea
• Palhinhaea cernua f. ciliatomarginata
• Palhinhaea cernua f. sikkimensis
• Palhinhaea cernua var. sikkimensis
• Palhinhaea mariana
• Palhinhaea polycephala
• Lycopodium capillaceum
• Lycopodium cernuum var. blancheanum
• Lycopodium cernuum var. chaminadeanum
• Lycopodium cernuum f. durissimum
• Lycopodium cernuum var. dussii
• Lycopodium cernuum var. majus
• Lycopodium cernuum var. medium
• Lycopodium cernuum var. minus
• Lycopodium cernuum var. caboverdeanum
• Lycopodium cernuum f. ingens
• Palhinhaea cernua f. laxa
• Lycopodium cernuum var. sikkimense
• Lycopodium cernuum var. capillaceum
• Lycopodium cernuum var. crassifolium
• Lycopodium brevibracteatum
• Palhinhaea crassifolia
• Lycopodiella cernua var. capillacea
• Lycopodium cernuum var. laxum
• Lycopodium polycephalum
• Lycopodium cernuum f. macrostachyum
• Lycopodium hupeanum
• Palhinhaea lufengensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Lycopodiidae and the order Lycopodiales, falling into the family Lycopodiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Lycopodiella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several distinct regions of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is documented in Portugal. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species can be found in Sicilia. Furthermore, it occupies several islands within the Macaronesia region, including the Azores and Madeira. Its range also extends to the Cape Verde islands within the same Macaronesian archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lycopodiella cernua is characterized by a highly versatile distribution across diverse Brazilian ecosystems, including Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (latu sensu), and Restinga. This adaptability allows the species to colonize a wide range of environmental conditions, from coastal sandy environments to high-altitude rocky outcrops. Its altitudinal tolerance is extensive, spanning an elevational range from 0 m to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to thrive in both lowland tropical habitats and high-elevation montane landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Lycopodiella cernua is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term survival through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a chamermephyte, maintaining its photosynthetic structures close to the soil surface, while also exhibiting traits of a geophyte, which allows it to persist via underground storage organs. Throughout its life cycle, the species is classified as evergreen, retaining its foliage to facilitate continuous metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lycopodiella cernua is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, as it grows independently. Primarily a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic habits. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

1.4 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lycopodiella cernua is characterized by a specialized metabolic and morphological profile adapted to its specific environmental niche. It utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard carbon fixation method that involves the direct fixation of CO2 through the Calvin cycle. Morphologically, the plant exhibits highly reduced leaf structures, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, and leaf widths varying between a minimum of 0.02 cm and a maximum of 0.1 cm. These diminutive leaves are non-succulent, lacking the specialized water-storage tissues found in succulent species. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the nutrient availability within its substrate.

Leaf length max:

0.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.15 cm

Leaf width max:

0.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.02 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lycopodiella cernua is characterized by a combination of sexual and asexual strategies. Its sexual reproduction relies on abiotic pollination syndromes, utilizing wind as a primary medium to facilitate the transfer of spores. Following fertilization, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, where the spores are primarily dispersed by the wind to colonize new habitats. Additionally, the reproductive cycle is supported by the presence of asexual reproduction, allowing the plant to propagate through vegetative means.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

water

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lycopodiella cernua has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3alpha,21beta,24-Trihydroxyserrat-14-en-16-one, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Cernuine, Dillenetin, Lycocernuine.

3alpha,21beta,24-Trihydroxyserrat-14-en-16-one

1. Journal of natural products

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Journal of natural products

Cernuine

1. Dr. Duke

Dillenetin

1. Journal of natural products

Lycocernuine

1. Dr. Duke

Rhamnazin

1. Journal of natural products

alpha-Onocerin

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Lycopodiella cernua has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Neuroprotective, Toxic, Xanthine-Oxidase-Inhibitor.

Neuroprotective

1. Phytochemistry

Toxic

1. Dr. Duke

Xanthine-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Lycopodiella cernua has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cognitive impairment, cognitive impairments.

Cognitive impairment

1. Neuroscience letters

Cognitive impairments

1. Neuroscience letters

Preparations

Lycopodiella cernua has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of natural products