Phylloglossum
| Phylloglossum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Lycopodiophyta |
| Class: | Lycopodiopsida |
| Order: | Lycopodiales |
| Family: | Huperziaceae |
| Genus: | Phylloglossum |
| Species: | P. drummondii |
| Binomial name | |
| Phylloglossum drummondii Kunze | |
Phylloglossum, a genus in the clubmoss family Huperziaceae, is a small plant superficially resembling a tiny grass plant, growing with a rosette of slender leaves 2-5 cm long from an underground bulb-like root. It has a single central stem up to 5 cm tall bearing a spore-producing cone at the apex, and was previously classified variously in the family Lycopodiaceae or in its own family the Phylloglossaceae, but recent genetic evidence demonstrates it is most closely related to the genus Huperzia and is a sister clade to the genus Phlegmariurus, which was formerly included in Huperzia.
The only species, Phylloglossum drummondii (pygmy clubmoss), is a native of Australia (southwestern Western Australia, southern South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania) and New Zealand (North Island).
References and external links
- Wikstrom, N. and P. Kenrick. 1997. Phylogeny of Lycopodiaceae (Lycopsida) and the relationships of Phylloglossum drummondii Kunze based on rbcL sequences. International Journal of Plant Sciences 158: 862-871.
- Phylloglossum species list
- University of Auckland factsheet
- Photo (Australian National Botanical Gardens)