Lycopodium vs. Selaginella

Lycopodium (from Greek lykos, wolf and podion, diminutive of pous, foot) is a genus of clubmosses, also known as ground pines or creeping cedars, in the family Lycopodiaceae. Two very different circumscriptions of the genus are in use.

Selaginella is the sole genus of vascular plants in the family Selaginellaceae, the spikemosses or lesser clubmosses. This family is distinguished from Lycopodiaceae (the clubmosses) by having scale-leaves bearing a ligule and by having spores of two types.

A plant of the genus Lycopodium, which includes many of the club mosses.

Any of numerous often creeping or prostrate vascular plants of the genus Selaginella that bear spores, have small scalelike leaves, and are closely related to the club mosses. Also called spikemoss.

The yellowish powdery spores of certain club mosses, especially Lycopodium clavatum, formerly used in fireworks and explosives and as a covering for pills.

Any of a group of ferny plants of the genus Selaginella, spike moss.

club moss

A genus of cryptogamous plants resembling Lycopodia, but producing two kinds of spores; also, any plant of this genus. Many species are cultivated in conservatories.

A genus of mosslike plants, the type of the order Lycopodiaceæ; club moss.

type and sole genus of the Selaginellaceae; evergreen mosslike plants: spike moss and little club moss

type and sole genus of the Lycopodiaceae; erect or creeping evergreen plants often used for Christmas decorations