Question

Which of the following is called club moss?
(a)Pteris
(b)Lycopodium
(c)Equisetum
(d)Marsilea

Answer 1

Hint: Club mosses are tracheophytes and are also known as ground pines or creeping cedars. They are vascular plants that reproduce by spores instead of seeds. They are known by the presence of simple and needle-like leaves.

Complete step by step answer:
The Lycopodium genus is also known as club moss and also known as ground pine or creeping cedar.
- They are vascular plants that reproduce through spores and do not have seeds or flowers. They have widely branched, erect, prostrate, or creeping stems, with small, simple, needle-like, or scale-like leaves known as microphylls that cover the stem and branches.
- The spores are borne in kidney-shaped or reniform spore-cases known as sporangia.
- The fertile stems appear club-shaped, hence they are known as club mosses.
- The genus belongs to the class Lycopodiopsida.
- The sexual gametophyte stage of the plants are long-lived and live underground for years before they progress to the asexual sporophyte stage. The prothallium developed from the spore bears both antheridia and archegonia.

So, the correct answer is ‘Lycopodium’.

Additional information: Pteris is a genus that contains multiple species of ferns. They are tracheophytes.
- Equisetum is a family of vascular plants that contain horsetails, snake grass, and puzzle grass.
- Marsilea is a genus of aquatic ferns and is commonly known as water clovers and four-leaf clovers.
- Lycopodia form microbial associations with mycorrhiza and endophytes.

Note:
The genus Lycopodium was discovered by Carl Linnaeus.
- Lycopodium spores are used to make a powder used for explosive substances such as fireworks.
- The spores are also used in traditional medicine.