Mosses and Liverworts

Running Cedar is found throughout Prince William Forest Park

NPS Photo

Lycopodium Family

This form of club mosses species only grow in undisturbed areas. As a result, they are endangered in many areas. A common member of this family which you will see throughout Prince William Forest Park is running cedar, Lycopodium digitatum. Running cedar is a low growing evergreen plant, which stays green all year long. The leaves are small and flat with pointed tips that feel like leather. Ground Pines or Lycopodium clavatum, was used in the past in fireworks, photographic flash powder, fingerprint powders, as a covering for pills and explosives. Lycopodium grows in large colonies which cover the forest floor.