Dendrolycopodium obscurum

Small plant that looks like a tiny pine tree

Dendrolycopodium obscurum princess pine

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA Synonyms:   Lycopodium obscurum

Small, treelike, evergeen clubmoss with many spreading, flattened branches and lustrous green leaves.  Common in our area and mostly found in humus-rich woods.

Common in rich hardwood and mixed forests, and shrubby areas; moist to dry, acidic soils.

Range:  From Newfoundland south to PA and to southeast VA, Kentucky and west to Minnesota.

Wetland codes
EMP: FACU
NCNE: FACU



This clubmoss overwinters.

Horizontal stems  creeping and branching well below surface of ground; no annual constrictions.

Upright stems  to 12 in. tall.  Erect, treelike; branched 4-5 times to form fanlike lateral branches.  Tightly appressed leaves on main stem below lateral branches.  Stems arise at intervals from subsurface horizontal stem.

Lateral branches  somewhat flattened in cross-section, with leaves on underside very small.  Conspicuous annual constrictions.

Leaves  1/4 in. long. Narrow, lance-shaped; smooth sides taper to sharp-pointed tips.  All leaves ascend(pointed toward end of branch); leaves of lateral branches 6-ranked.

Strobilus  1.5 in. long. Sessile (no stalk), borne singly on ends of upper branches, 1-6 per upright, branche stem.

Sporophyll  rouned, glat base and long, gradually narrowing tip.

The stem has a tree-like appearance.  The leaves are dark green, needle-like, and appressed to the stem.

S-rank:  S5 (Secure)
G-rank:  G5 (Secure)

The epithet 'obscurum' was given to the plant by Linnaeus in 1753.  It comes from the latin word, obscurus meaning "to hide".

Dendrolycopodium obscurum princess pine

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneouslyPlant is native to PA
Synonyms:   Lycopodium obscurum

Dendrolycopodium obscurum gallery
Plant Life-Form
evergreen clubmoss
Common Names
princess pine flat-branched tree clubmoss