Diphasiastrum digitatum
Most common ground cedar in the state
Diphasiastrum digitatum southern ground cedar
Synonyms:
Lycopodium digitatum
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A common ground cedar that is creeping and of dark green color. Stems rise up to 25 cm from the ground and support several groups of sterile fan-like branches that terminate in long fingers. Green branches do not support annual constrictions. Strobili are blunt-tipped and generally in groups of 3 or 4 reside atop long, branchless pedicels.
Habitat & Range
Grows in mixed coniferous or hardwood forests, dry woods, or scrubby and open fields.
Range is from Newfoundland and Quebec across to Minnesota down to South California, and Alabama.
Wetland Code: Not classified
Characteristics
Horizontal stems creeping on soil surface or in old leaves.
Upright stems 6 to 20 in. tall (including strobili); branching up to 3 times.
Lateral branches flattened in cross-section, no annual constrictions. Underside of branch dull and pale, upper side green and shiny.
Leaves tiny, 4-ranked, attached to stem for more than 1/2 of their length. Upper rank of leaves appressed and narrow; lateral rank of leaves keele, spreading at tips, and much larger than upper leaves; leaves of underside rank smallest, triangular, with pointed tip.
Strobilus mostly 1 in. long. Many strobili with elongate sterile tip up to 1/2 in. long. Stalk usually twice-forked at nearly the same point, mostly near top of stalks, bearing 2 to 4 strobili in a false whorl. Stalks 1.5 - 5 in long; leaves on underside rank smallest, triangular, with pointed tip.
Sporophyll greenish yellow, triangular with abruptly pointed tip.
Plant Codes
S-rank: S5 (Secure)
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Diphasiastrum digitatum southern ground cedar
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