Clubmosses and Spikemosses: Phylum Lycopodiophyta

Lycopodes in the division Lycopodiophyta are often considered primitive vasular plants because they are the evolutionarily very old.  They came into the fossil record around 410 million years ago.  Lycopodes reproduce by shedding spores.  They have macroscopic alternation of generations whereby the sporophyte generation is dominant.  Unlike other vascular plants, lycopodes have microphylls, a name for the leaves which have only a single vascular vein.  Most ferns and seed plants have complex leaves that are known as megaphylls.

About the featured Video: the above animation was produced by Ciaran Moloney. It represents the life cycle of Selaginella apoda known as meadow spikemoss, a lycophyte native to North America and Mexico.