[A transl. of 16th c. Lat. Muscus clavatus.] A name properly applied to Lycopodium clavatum from the club-like shape of its upright fertile spikes of spore-cases; thence extended to the other species of the genus, and sometimes to all the Lycopodiaceæ, plants of creeping or erect habit intermediate in many respects between ferns and mosses.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, 1374. Muscus clauatus, siue Lycopodium, Club Mosse, or Woolfe claw Mosse … in lowe Dutch Wolfs clauwen, whereupon we first named it Lycopodion and Pes Lupi, in English Woolfes foote or Woolfes clawe, and likewise Club Mosse.
1636. T. Johnson, Gerarde’s Herbal, 1563. This [L. alpinum] is no other than a kinde of Muscus clavatus or Club-Mosse … but Bauhine … nameth it Muscus clavatus foliis Cypressi, and Turner not vnfitly in English, Heath Cypresse.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 136. On the heathy mountanes all around, the lycopodium, or club-moss, is found in great plenty.
1855. Kingsley, Glaucus (1878), 15. The stag’s-horn clubmoss ceases to straggle across the turf, and the tufted alpine clubmoss takes its place.
1873. Dawson, Earth & Man, iv. 76. Lycopods or club-mosses.
