Club mosses

Definition

Club mosses are seedless vascular plants belonging to the Lycopodiophyta division. They resemble true mosses but possess vascular tissue, which differentiates them from bryophytes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Club mosses reproduce via spores and do not produce seeds.
2. They have microphylls, which are small leaves with a single vein.
3. Club mosses were more abundant and larger during the Carboniferous period.
4. The strobili or cones of club mosses contain sporangia, which release spores for reproduction.
5. Lycopodium is a common genus of club mosses, often used in studying plant evolution.

Review Questions

• How do club mosses reproduce?
• What type of leaves do club mosses have?
• During which geological period were club mosses more abundant?

Related terms

Lycopodium: A genus of club mosses commonly studied in plant biology.

Microphyll: A type of small leaf with a single vein found in some seedless vascular plants.

Sporangium: A structure found on the strobili of club mosses that produces and releases spores.