Question: Hello While walking at the Macdonald Conservation Area ( Readfield ME.) I think I spotted Huperzia Lucidula. Shining Firmoss. The …
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Question
Hello While walking at the Macdonald Conservation Area ( Readfield ME.) I think I spotted Huperzia Lucidula. Shining Firmoss. The area is woodland and was on the wet/damp side. Could you please confirm? It took me while to find a possible ID. Thanks
Answer
Dear efsilver65, good morning. You have photographed Spinulum annotinum (common interrupted-clubmoss). This species is sometimes confused with Huperzia species, but it will produce sessile spore cones at the summit of the upright shoots (rather than having spores borne in alternating zones along the shoot). The genus Spinulum doesn't produce gemmiphores (specialized branches with tiny, six-leaved bulbils), but Huperzia does. So, if this was a species of Huperzia, those branchlets and gemmae would have been present. I hope this is helpful.
