Diphasiastrum alpinum have 30-50 cm long stems, with 3-5 cm long branches. The stems are upright, 4-edged, growing densely in branchy bunches. The leaves are small, scale-like, wintering and parallel to the stem.[3] The leaves are hollow at the bases.[4] The spore-cases are in sessile, 1-1,5 cm long, densely cylindrical spore cones.[3] The female stems produce strobili up to 3cm (1in) long.[5][6][7]
It has a circumpolar distribution across much of the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere: much of Canada, the northwestern United States, northern and central Europe, Russia, China and Japan. It is an indicator of alpine tundra and boreal climates.[4] It is found in mountains and moors often with Calluna and grasses.[1][8][9]
1 2 3 Williams, Tara Y. 1990. Lycopodium alpinum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
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