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Southern Ground Cedar, Fan Clubmoss, Running Pine, Running Ground Cedar - Diphasiastrum digitatum


Family: Lycopodiaceae - Club-moss family Genus Common Name: Clubmoss Native Status: NativeLycopod Perennial Herb
Diphasiastrum digitatum - Southern Ground Cedar, Fan Clubmoss, Running Pine, Running Ground Cedar. This is a Lycopod rather than a flowering seed plant. Lycopods are among the plants known as fern-allies. Like ferns, it reproduces via spores from the club-like appendages above the plant. Diphasiastrum digitatum is a synonym for the newer scientific name Lycopodium digitatum.

It is listed as "Exploitably Vulnerable" in New York.

Found in:
AL, AR, CT, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV

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Diphasiastrum digitatum

Distribution of Diphasiastrum digitatum in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: 5 Points Recreation Area, Cloudland Canyon State Park, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-January-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Ground Cedar is evergreen, sometimes missing only because it is underneath the snow.
Diphasiastrum digitatum
Site: GA - Dawson County Date: 2003-September-01Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Running Ground Cedar is a Lycopod rather than a flowering seed plant. It reproduces via spores from the club-like appendages above the plant.

This photo was taken along the Len Foote Hike Inn Trail in Dawson County, GA.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Diphasiastrum digitatum
Site: 5 Points Recreation Area, Cloudland Canyon State Park, Walker County, GA Date: 2013-January-19Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D7000
Ground Cedar colonies will cover large areas of forest floor.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Diphasiastrum digitatum
References used for identification and information:
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Diphasiastrum digitatum initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-04-15; Updated 2015-06-24

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