Flora of North America species comparison

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Huperzia occidentalis

western clubmoss, western fir clubmoss, western fir-moss
Gemmiferous branchlets

produced in 1 pseudowhorl at end of annual growth;

gemmae 4–4.5 × 3.5–4 mm;

lateral leaves broadly obtuse, widest above middle, 1.25–1.5 mm wide.
Shoots

erect, indeterminate, 12–20 cm, becoming long-decumbent, 4–20 cm;

leaves in mature portion slightly smaller than in juvenile portion; distinct annual constrictions present;

juvenile growth erect.
Leaves

reflexed (juvenile portion) or spreading to reflexed (mature portion), light green to whitish green, lustrous;

largest leaves oblanceolate, broadest at 1/2–3/4 length, 6–10 mm;

smallest leaves narrowly triangular, broadest at base, 4–7 mm;

margins with small papillae;

stomates present on both surfaces, numerous (36–80 per 1/2 leaf) on adaxial surface.
Spores

30–38 µm.

Huperzia occidentalis
Habitat Terrestrial in shaded conifer forests and swamps, often along streams and in marshes
Elevation 10–1000(–2000) m (0–3300(–6600) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; ID; MT; OR; WA; AB; BC; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Huperzia occidentalis is similar to the eastern H. lucidula and occupies similar habitats.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 2.
Parent taxa Lycopodiaceae > Huperzia
Sibling taxa
H. appalachiana, H. haleakalae, H. lucidula, H. miyoshiana, H. porophila, H. selago
Synonyms Lycopodium lucidulum, Lycopodium lucidulum var. occidentale
Name authority (Clute) Kartesz & Gandhi: Phytologia 70: 201. (1991)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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