Lycopodium clavatum (Lat. Lycopodium clavatum) found in pine and mixed forests.Thin evergreen herbaceous shoots crowned with dense spikes.But this is not the inflorescence, because moss - higher spore plants and never blooms.Reproduction and life cycle have unique features associated with the ancient origins of the group.It features a number of features and the structure of Lycopodium clavatum.
Living Fossil
in the Paleozoic era of forest tree horsetails, ferns and moss covered a huge area on the planet.Over time, these groups of organisms to multiply which need water in the drip-liquid form, gave way to a more adapted plants - gymnosperms and flowering.Do not have survived in this struggle for survival tree moss - lepidodendrons and sigillaria, reaches a height of 40 meters. But they gave rise to a powerful coal seams in some regions of the planet.Modern plant family Lycopodiaceae dissimilar in appearance to the lush vegetation of the carboxylic, but they have inherited a way of reproduction and development cycle of their ancient ancestors.
Why plant called "moss"?
from the original place of attachment of one of the stages in the life cycle Lycopodium - prothallia - start to grow creeping green stems.On the perimeter they are still young, without spore spikelets, and in the center ring - their obsolete.It seems that Lycopodium clavatum moves through the forest.This is due to a permanent demise of the old and the growth of new shoots.The feature has long been noticed and gave Slavic nations "floating" plant called "moss" (quicksand).Interestingly origin of the Latin name of the genus moss.It is associated with the German word "wolf's paw."So in the old days it was called moss in Germany.In the XVI century the word was translated into Latin, it was the result Licopodium.Different people in the name moss "Lycopodium", "wolfberry".
Features moss
unique and very ancient plants found in the forest zone of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.Genus Lycopodium, to which Lycopodium clavatum existed in the forests of the Paleozoic more than 350 million years ago.Many signs indicate that this group is gradually fading.But the structure of the moss has features of higher organization in comparison with moss.You can meet them on the example of Lycopodium clavatum.
earliest signs:
- dichotomous branching;
- spiral Phyllotaxy.
Features of higher plants have Lycopodium:
- differentiated tissue;
- leafy herbaceous stems;
- real roots.
characteristic feature - mikrofiliya associated with the origin of the leaves from the surface of stem outgrowths.
structure Lycopodium clavatum
All perennial (asexual stage) looks fluffy deviating from the set of small leaves.They have linear-lanceolate, each ends with an extremely fragile white hairs.Lycopodium clavatum is long and slender creeping stem.This kind of living cord reaches a length of 1 to 4 m. From him originate the ascending side shoots (50 cm).Taproot, there is only clauses which the plant is attached to the ground.Long slim legs with widely spaced leaves from the stem lead to thickening on top of the escape.This fertile spikelets, having a cylindrical shape and reaching a length of 4 cm. Usually contains two, less common groups of three or four.The sinuses are located sporolistikov sporangia.Each of these small bags filled with spores.
structure gametophyte
Disputes Lycopodium clavatum give rise gametophyte or prothallia.Lycopodium clavatum structure at this stage it does not appear in the perennial, as we are accustomed to seeing.Sporophyte reaches a diameter of just over one millimeter.It zarostok - a temporary phenomenon in the life of the plant, but very necessary.If the disputes are in adverse conditions, they are a long time can not give rise to a new organism.Independently absorb nutrients microscopic gametophyte can not, he uses the "services" of soil fungi.If spores germinate quickly on the surface, translucent zarostok becomes pale green color and is capable of photosynthesis.In favorable conditions gametophyte mature faster.In special education occur sexual gametes.Women - egg - large and immobile.Men - sperm - small, equipped with flagella, and move quickly.Mature germ cells at different times.Male cells to move to the eggs need to be water droplets.At the confluence of gamete fertilization.The zygote begins to divide, giving rise to cells and tissues of the future sporophyte.
Lifecycle Lycopodium clavatum
trace the development of the plant from the dispute to an adult plant.That is what we usually see in the woods or on the photo "Lycopodium clavatum."The Baggies, sporangia spikelets summer ripens huge amounts of spores resembling yellow powder.Consider the structure of dust is possible only under a microscope.Chemical analyzes show significant content of vegetable fat in them.Pours controversy in July and August, carried by the wind in the forest and are spreading Lycopodium.In the soil under favorable conditions, germination begins.Formed zarostok-gametophyte, resembles a small pea with a tail.Sexual reproduction clavate Lycopodium - an intermediate stage in the life cycle, ensuring genetic diversity.After the formation of gametes and fertilization occurs on a microscopic prothallia sporophyte.It is already possible to see the structure of a thin green stem and leaves.Escape rushes to light and back - down to the soil.Most moss reproduces vegetatively - each of his whip, which has roots can survive without the mother plant.
Practical use of Lycopodium
used for medical purposes plant spores, known as Lycopodium.Used raw materials, collected in natural conditions for the preparation of baby powder and anti-bedsores.Lycopodium includes:
- oil;
- proteins;
- polysaccharides;
- sitosterol;
- phenol carbonic acids;
- minerals.
Folk healers appreciate the wound-healing ability of Lycopodium, is recommended for burns, frostbite.The herb has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in diseases of different organs and systems.The outer form of medicines from Lycopodium spores help with eczema, boils, herpes.Lycopodium Treatment with drugs should be carried out on the advice and under medical supervision.
Environmental requirements
Stems Lycopodium gradually "creeping" in the side of the original site of spore germination.The ability of their education at the plant appears on the 15-30-th year of life.Zarostok dies at the stage of shoot and root.Avilable clavate Lycopodium and reproduction determined the place of distribution plants.Undemanding to soil, it needs water droplets to fertilization gender-stage.Such conditions moss found in many regions and countries, including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine.The plant is found mainly on sandy soils in light pine forests.Less often - in mixed and deciduous.In the past half century the number of Lycopodium significantly reduced.One problem area is related to the resumption of the slow formation of spore-bearing spikelets.In the forests of vegetative shoots can be seen much more frequently than generative.In addition, not always suitable conditions for spore germination.They can die from dehydration or years did not give rise gametophyte.This is just part of the environmental issues associated with the oldest plant in the world.It may repeat the fate of neighbors on the planet back in the Paleozoic - lepidodendrons and sigillaria.
Deforestation, converting them into agricultural landscapes negative impact on sexual and asexual reproduction clavate Lycopodium.It carried out its protection in a number of states in the US, where the plant is considered rare in need of protection.
