Tropical clubmoss
Lycopodiella cernua

Family: Lycopodiaceae

What it is like

A fern. A plant which lies along the ground. It has long branching stems covered with small scale like leaves. The stem trailing along the ground forms root clusters. Side branches are erect. The branch tips turn down and have small cones which develop spores.

There are 40 Lycopodium species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in warmer countries. It grows near moist stream banks between 1,000-1,980 m above sea level. In Swaziland it grows in the high veld.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Australia, Asia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guinée, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Kosrae, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Reunion, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sicily, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St John, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, Yap, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The very young parts are cooked and used as a vegetable.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves

How it is grown

Plants grow from spores.

Its other names

Local names

Akuru eke, Kangrem, Nagbellii, Pakis kawat, Paku kawek, Paku serani, Paran, Rumput kenarus, Rumput serani, Sarang baganding, Simbar watu, Tentempelan, Wawae 'iole

Synonyms

Lepidotis cernua (L.) P. Beauv.; Lycopodium cernuum L.; Lycopodium secundum K. Muell.;