Some similarities to : Interrupted Clubmoss

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : Stiff as a brush! Forks into two near the top, rather than half-way up.

No relation to : Fringed Water-Lily [a plant with similar name]

The toxic spores of Stagshorn Clubmoss (Lycopodium Clavatum) were once collected as a fine yellow powder called 'Lycopodium' powder and used in classroom science demonstration, where sound vibrations on brass plates are made visible and the presence of electrostatic charges easily betrayed. They are highly inflammable and were once used in fireworks and in photographic flash powders. Their lightness and propensity to stick to any slight electrical charge or oil also made it useful as a fingerprint powder.

Over 150 different Lycopodium alkaloids have been discovered. Collectively, within Clubmosses, they are a moderately hazardous neurotoxin, causing vomiting, nausea, dizziness, staggering and coma. It can be lethal.

In the past Lycopodium has been used to treat skin disorders and as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine.

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Many mosses belonging to the Lycopodium, Huperzia and Phyloglossum Genus [all three belonging to the Lycopodiaceae Family] contain highly toxic quinolizidine alkaloids such as lycopodine, annotidine/annotinine, huperzine A and selagine. Huperzine A and selagine have similar structures and are found in a wide variety of Clubmosses. There exist many other variations on this molecule. Huperzine A was first found in Huperzia Selago, the Fir Clubmoss featured on this page. It is an Acetylcholine inhibitor and may eventually find use in treating Alzheimers disease. Selagine could have first been found in Lesser Clubmoss, (Selaginella Salaginoides), or in Huperzia Selago. Lycopodine, Lycofoline and Annotine have much the same molecular structure, and are to be found in most Clubmosses. Lycofoline is perhaps less abundant than the other alkaloids. Once again, many other molecular variants exist. Annotinine/Annotidine was first found in Interrupted Clubmoss (Lycopodium Annotinum) and Cernuine in the possibly non-native Creeping Clubmoss (Lycopodium Cernuum) Lycoramine is a rather different alkaloid with 5-, 6- and 7-membered rings found in Lycopodium Clubmosses. Lycoramine is chemically very similar to Galanthamine which occurs in members of the Daffodil Family. Clavatine, (aka Claviformine, Expansine, Leucopine, Mycoine, Penicidine, and Tercine but now known only as Patuline) does not contain nitrogen and is therefore not an alkaloid. It was first found in numerous species of Aspergillus and Penicillium moulds, especially Penicillium Expansum, Penicillium Claviform and Aspergillus Clavatus. It has more recently been found in Penicillium Patulum, hence the new name Patuline, all previous names being now dis-used. It is a mycotoxin. There seems to be confusing evidence as to whether the Clavatine that is reported to be found in Stagshorn Clubmoss, which co-incidentally?? has the Latinish name of Lycopodium Clavatum is identical to the Clavatine to be found in fungal moulds, but this inference seems reasonable.

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