Huperziaceae Rothmaler. Common name: Firmoss Family.
A family of 3 genera and ca. 300 species, mainly tropical and subtropical. Within the lycophytes, Huperzia and related genera (Phlegmariurus and Phylloglossum) form a clade with “an isolated position”, sister to the remainder of the family, and warrant family rank as Huperziaceae (Haines 2003a). See discussion under Lycopodiaceae about family circumscriptions.
ID notes: The family Huperziaceae is recognized by being lycophytes -- vascular plants (larger than a moss and with a thicker stem), with numerous microphyll leaves, and with solitary sporangia borne in the axils of leaves (or embedded in the base of the leaf). Among lycophytes, the family is recognized by having dichotomously branching stems (Y-forked) borne in clusters, with many microphyll leaves less than 2 cm long, arrayed in an unranked pattern on the stem (not in rows along the length of the stem), and bearing ‘large’ (> 1 mm wide), kidney-shaped sporangia axillary to normally-sized leaves.
References: Beitel (1979); Chen et al. (2021); Haines (2003a); Lellinger (1985); Mickel (1979); Øllgaard (1987); Øllgaard (1987); Øllgaard & Windisch (2014); Øllgaard In Kramer & Green (1990); Øllgaard, Kessler, & Smith (2018); Snyder & Bruce (1986); Testo, Field, & Barrington (2018); Wagner & Beitel (1992); Wagner & Beitel (1992); Wikström & Kenrick (2000); Wikström & Kenrick (2001). Show full citations.
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend. Data for arrows not developed for genera and families which may have species only occurring outside the flora area.
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Phlegmariurus dichotomus | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Huperziaceae? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.