Lycopodiales

plant order

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June 30, 2026

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The Lycopodiales, commonly known as club mosses, are a primitive order of vascular plants belonging to the class Lycopodiopsida. These spore-bearing plants are characterized by their simple leaves, called microphylls, and sporangia (spore cases) that are typically borne in club-shaped structures called strobili.12

While ancient lycophytes, such as Lepidodendron, could grow into large trees, all living species are small herbaceous plants. The order Lycopodiales includes the family Lycopodiaceae and is recognized as one of three orders within the lycophytes, alongside Isoetales (quillworts) and Selaginellales (spike mosses). Lycophytes were particularly abundant during the Carboniferous Period, forming significant portions of the world's coal beds.2345

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lycophyte
Annotated classification
Order Lycopodiales (club mosses) Living and extinct plants with primary growth only; homosporous; 16 living genera, mostly tropical: Huperzia (10–15 species), Lycopodium (9–15 species), Lycopodiella (15 species), and Phylloglossum (1
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Order Lycopodiales (club mosses) Living and extinct plants with primary growth only; homosporous; 16 living genera, mostly tropical: Huperzia (10–15 species), Lycopodium (9–15 species), Lycopodiella (15 species), and Phylloglossum (1
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Carboniferous Period
Plants
…most important groups were the lycopods, sphenopsids, cordaites, seed ferns, and true ferns. Lysopods are represented in the modern world only by club mosses, but in the Carboniferous Period they included tall trees with dense, spirally arranged leaves. Reproduction involved either cones or
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…most important groups were the lycopods, sphenopsids, cordaites, seed ferns, and true ferns. Lysopods are represented in the modern world only by club mosses, but in the Carboniferous Period they included tall trees with dense, spirally arranged leaves. Reproduction involved either cones or
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lycophyte
…recognized: the club mosses (Lycopodiales), the quillworts and their allies (Isoetales), and the spike mosses (Selaginellales). This classification is based on the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (PPG I) system, published in 2016. Lycophytes are widely distributed but are especially numerous in the tropics.
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…recognized: the club mosses (Lycopodiales), the quillworts and their allies (Isoetales), and the spike mosses (Selaginellales). This classification is based on the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (PPG I) system, published in 2016. Lycophytes are widely distributed but are especially numerous in the tropics.
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