Huperzia appalachiana is a species of clubmoss.[1][2][3][4]

Huperzia appalachiana
A photo of a firmoss
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Lycophytes
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Lycopodiales
Family: Lycopodiaceae
Genus: Huperzia
Species:
H. appalachiana
Binomial name
Huperzia appalachiana
Beitel & Mickel

Description

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The original description is:

Stems tufted to shortly decumbent (1 cm (0.39 in)), erect portions of stem 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) tall. Stems appear to live for definite periods (about 10 years of spore production), then senesce and the entire plant dies. New stems produced by gemmae, which fall at base of older plant. Growth during juvenile period erect. Stems showing no annual constrictions. Mature portion of stem with markedly small leaves. Leaves ascending to spreading in juvenile portion, ascending to appressed in mature portion. Plants uniformly green to yellow-green. Adaxial leaf surfaces with large number of stomates (35-60 per half leaf). Leaf margin entire with occasional small papillae formed by marginal [3]

Range

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Restricted to acidic rock at high elevations along the lower Appalachians, and to northern latitudes elsewhere, generally near the Canadian border in Vermont, Maine, and Michigan, and up into the Canadian Shield.[3]

Habitat

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Acidic rock, occasionally exposed cliff faces.[3]

Etymology

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Appalachiana is the Latin adjectival form of Appalachia.

References

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  1. ^ Citizen science observations for Huperzia appalachiana at iNaturalist
  2. ^ "Huperzia appalachiana in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ a b c d Beitel, Joseph M.; Mickel, John Thomas (1992-04-01). "The Appalachian Firmoss, a New Species in the Huperzia selago (Lycopodiaceae) Complex in Eastern North America, with a New Combination for the Western Firmoss". American Fern Journal. 82 (2): 41. doi:10.2307/1547376.
  4. ^ "Huperzia appalachiana". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 November 2024.