A small, evergreen vascular plant with tiny, scale-like leaves arranged spirally around the stem and club-shaped reproductive structures called strobili. Despite its name, club moss is not a true moss but a lycophyte related to ancient tree-sized ancestors.
Named for the club-like appearance of its spore-bearing cones (strobili), combined with 'moss' due to its small, moss-like appearance. The misleading common name reflects early botanical confusion before the distinction between bryophytes and pteridophytes was understood.
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