Diphasiastrum digitatum

Running Cedar is a native herbaceous perennial evergreen in the Clubmoss Family (LYCOPODIACEAE). It is native to the northern half of Alabama with scattered outlying populations in south Alabama. Running Cedar occurs in acidic coniferous or hardwood forest, in cut-over woods, and in pine plantations. It is a perennial with an elongate horizontal rhizome that is located above the soil surface in the leaf litter. The rhizome is covered with appressed linear to lanceolate scale-like leaves. Scattered roots develop along the underside of the rhizome and upright stems along the upper surface. The upright stems are regularly branched with fan-like branches that are flat in cross section. The leaves of the branches are 4-ranked and linear to lanceolate in outline. Those leaves on the upper side of the branch are appressed, those on the sides of the branch are appressed to spreading, and those on the lower side of the branch are spreading but weakly developed. Running Cedar reproduces by forming spores. The spores are located in sporangia that are grouped together in a club-like structure known as a strobolis. There are 2-4 strobili on upright forked shoots that are taller than the vegetative shoots. This species is often collected for dried flower arrangements, fake “trees” for model sets, and as decorations for Christmas. Its spores were once the main source for Lycopodium powder, a primitive flashpowder. This species was previously known by the name Lycopodium flabelliforme (Fern.) Blanch.--A. Diamond