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Palhinhaea cernua (L.) Franco & Vasc.
| Family Name: | Lycopodiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Lepidotis cernua, Lycopodium secundum, Huperzia cernua, Lycopodium capillaceum, Lycopodium heeschii, Lycopodium boryanum, Lycopodium cernuum, Lycopodiella cernua |
| Common Name: | Scrambling Clubmoss, Rumput Kerangas, Paku Merak, Paku Selemah, Paku Tanjung, Paku Lumput, Remu Maunga, Nodding Clubmoss, Creeping Club Moss, Staghorn Clubmoss, Arching Clubmoss, Common Lycopodium, Monkey's Paws, Paku Serani, Rumput Serani, 过山龙, 筋骨草 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Ferns & Lycophytes (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Clubmoss & Spikemoss) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Creeper, Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.6 m to 1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Throughout tropics & sub-topics, except driest areas |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest, Coastal Forest, Riverine, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Terrestrial clubmoss -- a prehistoric fern-ally evolutionarily located between ferns and mosses, before flowering plants appeared on Earth, up to 1m in overall height. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Microphylls pale to bright green, linear, soft, small and needle-like (2-5mm long by 0.3mm wide), recurved, spiralling densely along aerial stems. |
| Stems | Main stem stout, creeping indefinitely over ground surface and rooting horizontally at intervals. Aerial stems slender and slightly pendulous/ nodding at tips, arising vertically from main stem, each resembling a bristly bottlebrush, and branching compoundly to make plant look like a miniature pine tree. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Conservation Status: Native to Singapore, common in the wild.Fertile Sections: Strobili cone-like, up to 1cm long, resembling larger version of microphylls, borne singly at ends of aerial stems, containing tiny ovate to deltoid sporophylls (1.2 by 1.5 mm) filled with globose reproductive spores. Plant may remain fertile throughout year, or hibernate as buried stems during dry season, while the rest of the plant dies down.Phytoremediation: Can be used as sediment-filter and water-purifier in wetlands and semi-aquatic sites. Reported to be effective at removing toxic heavy metals like copper and lead from contaminated sites and abandoned mines. |
| Habitat | Found at sunny fringes or open gaps of forests, in understorey layer of young secondary forests, amongst Adinandra belukar scrub vegetation, along marshy streams, in moist disturbed grassy areas and on cliff-faces, as well as on poorly-drained reclaimed land. |
| Cultivation | Hardy plant, tolerant of most soil types, including infertile, waterlogged and saline soils. Prefers lots of moisture, keep sites well-watered to prevent plants from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Not known to be susceptible to any insect pest. Propagate by layering of growing tips, using rooted stems and spores. Prune back branching stems during transport and after transplanting to reduce transpiration loss. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Lycopodiella' is diminutive version of Lycopodium, meaning 'little wolf's foot', a reference to the stroboli and stem tips. Species epithet 'cernua' means 'nodding', describing the pendent shoot-tips. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: Rich in alkaloids, used in folk medicine in many parts of world. Whole plant crushed and applied as dressing to wounds in Rwanda. Plant decoction used as tonic, made into herbal tea to treat stomach ulcers, or used with herbaceous shrub Tristemma mauritianum to treat hypertension. Used to relieve arthritis, gout, skin irritations and dysentery in tropical America. Plant is filtered and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine against rheumatism, hepatitis and dysentery, as well as applied topically to bruises, scalds and burns. In Southeast Asia, whole plant used as lotion for beri-beri, asthma and coughs, while its ashes mixed with vinegar are used to make a medicated ointment that treats skin eruptions and abscesses. Others: Products: Used as flea repellent in Congo, and as cockroach repellent in Micronesia. In Gabon, dried plants used as cotton substitute to stuff cushions, and foliage used to filter palm wine or as water-purifier. Also made into baskets. Floriculture: Fresh and dried plants used in floral decorations, widely used to make funeral wreaths in 1950s to 1960s. Dried plant retains shape well, can be used as ornamental accent in floristry or made into attractive bookmarks. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, General, Phytoremediation (Ground / Water Contaminant(s)), Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Naturalistic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Poor Infertile Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils, Disease / Pest Resistant |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Layering of growing tips, rooted sections, spores |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Modification | Reduced / Needle-like |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Linear) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Nanophyll ( 0.25cm2 - 2.25 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Herbaceous |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29440 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3749 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |