Clubmoss

Clubmosses are a great example of plant evolution. They are in fact a plant and not a moss – they have a vascular system for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant – some even look like miniature pine trees. Clubmosses were among the first terrestrial plants to appear They existed long before the dinosaurs.

Bushy Clubmoss in Bunyip State Park

 

Millions of years ago there were great forests of tall Clubmoss. Today’s coal deposits consist principally of fossilized Clubmoss trees. A change in climate (yes, it has happened before), brought about the demise of the large trees resulting in today’s Clubmosses being barely 30cm tall.

 

Worldwide there are more than 1200 species of Clubmosses still existing today. They are great survivors.

 

Clubmosses reproduce through the dispersal of spores on the wind and perhaps by an animal vector. The spores are produced in sporangia that are held within a pale coloured tip that appears at the top of the plant. It can take 20 years for a Clubmoss to produce its spores.

 

Mountain Clubmoss on Mt St Gwinear

Interestingly, the spores are highly flammable and were once collected and used in fireworks!

 

Two recent Clubmoss finds we came across were in Bunyip State Park and on the Baw Baw Plateau.