Moss-shaped plants: types, external characteristics, where they grow
One of the oldest groups of fern-like plants is the lycophyte plants, which are also called mosses. They are often evergreen, perennial plants. All species of club mosses are strictly protected, as they are considered endangered. But despite this, such herbs can be found throughout almost the entire globe, since they are unpretentious to any environmental factors and can grow almost anywhere.
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Types of lycophytes
The lycophytes include several groups of plants, which will be discussed further.
Subtles - they can grow under water, which is typical only for this species of this category, or be partially immersed in it. In appearance, they most closely resemble cereals, although they are not related to them in any way.
Selaginella - there are more than 600 species in total, which mainly grow in the tropics. These plants are more like moss, due to small leaves. There are also Selaginella, which produce exclusively vertical shoots, but are also creeping.
Mosses are directly the most common species, possessing all the characteristic features of moss-like plants. This is expressed both in external signs and in places of growth.It is these herbs that are considered the most important representatives of this class.
It should also be noted that mosses are plants that are spore-bearing, that is, they reproduce primarily through spores and are classified as higher. Accordingly, they do not form seeds or fruits, which complicates the process of their artificial cultivation. All species of lycophytes are generally similar to each other, and it is quite easy to distinguish them from other plants, especially knowing the general picture of the appearance of this class.
Appearance of lycophytic plants
The appearance of lycophytes mainly depends on the place of their growth and the specific group. As mentioned above, there are several of them, and such plants can be found almost anywhere in the world.
In any case, when considering external characteristics, it is necessary to start with the largest group - mosses. They are the ones most similar to mosses and have small and simple leaves. Scaly or needle-shaped mosses are sometimes also found, so this group is very broad indeed and includes many different herbs.
They are characterized by erect stems, sometimes creeping or ascending. Moss mosses can “climb” trees thanks to air roots. Also, in a few species, the presence of medium-sized branches is noted, which usually contain from one to four small leaves. Such branches are called brood buds, and they are the only organs of vegetative reproduction in lycophytes, since they are separated from the stem and, falling to the ground, can grow.
Next come the poloshniki. These are herbaceous plants, small in size, with basal leaves.In fact, all poushniks are very similar to each other, and at the same time they resemble cereals. The leaves are green or dark green, long, with slight roughness. If polushnik grows not in water, but on land (this only happens in well-moistened places, that is, near water), then only as thickets.
Some plants are white at the very base of the root, which then abruptly turns green.
Selaginella are distinguished by a thick stem covered with small, flat leaves. They can also be creeping, and in this case they produce vertical shoots that branch and because of this they look like fronds ferns. Important! If selaginella do not have enough water, then they fall into a state similar to hibernation, and at the same time curl up in a ball.
In general, all lycophytes can be described in appearance as follows: evergreen, with medium-sized, simple leaves, small in size. They have erect or creeping stems, which makes them particularly reminiscent of mosses, especially considering the fact that mosses can often be found on trees.
Some features of this or that group do not particularly change the overall picture, so when searching for lycophytes, you should focus specifically on these parameters. In addition, it is important to consider that, unlike mosses, almost all mosses have a stem.
Where do they grow?
Lycopods can be found both in the tropics and in our homeland. Specifically in Russia, various types of club mosses grow most often in forests, most often in coniferous, much less often in mixed ones. They grow in small thickets, but sometimes separately from each other.To be more specific, in which cities are lycopods common, then it is necessary first of all to highlight:
- The Urals, especially its southern part
- Altai region
- Yaroslavl
- Moscow
- Vladimir
- Ivanovsk
These are not all cities, and in general, you need to focus on the northern half of the European part, where club mosses are often found. Important! Polushniks are found only in the purest water, and nothing else. This class of plants never grows in polluted waters, but can often be found in crystal lakes.
In addition, lycophytes grow in the territories of Atlantic and Central Europe, North America and Scandinavia. As for Selaginella specifically, this class prefers warmer climatic conditions, and because of this, it can most often be found in the tropics.
To all of the above, it must be added that absolutely all types of mosses are listed in the Red Book of Russia, since, according to scientists, they are on the verge of extinction. The semi-student class is especially suffering at the moment.
So, lycophytes are plants that are found very often. They belong to the controversial and are included in the higher department. In terms of external characteristics, they most closely resemble mosses.
Video about fern, an excellent representative of the lycophytes:
