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CLUB-MOSSES — LYCOPODIACEAE

The species of this family are mostly saprophytic.

[Summary yet to be added]

Lycopodium

Club Moss

450 species are found in tropical and temperate regions.

The spores form a fine yellowish powder used for dusting pills, suppositories and rubber gloves. Granulomatous reactions in wounds can occur from its use for surgical gloves (Antopol 1933, Erb 1935). The inflammable powder can cause burns (Whitebread 1941). The powder used in powders, soaps and shampoos has been reported to cause dermatitis (Greenberg and Lester 1954).

Lycopodium clavatum

Lycopodium complanatum

Theatrical persons and pharmacists had hayfever from the powder (Salén 1951).

References

• Antopol, W. (1933) Arch. Path. 16: 326, cited by Boyd (1956).
• Boyd, W. (1956) Pathology for the Surgeon. Philadelphia pp. 36.
• Erb, I.H. (1935) Surg. Gynec. Obst. 60: 40, cited by Boyd (1956).
• Greenberg, L.A. and Lester, D. (1954) Handbook of Cosmetic Materials. New York, Interscience.
• Salén, E.B. (1951) Lycopodium allergy. Acta Allergol. 4: 308.
• Whitebread, C. (1941) Beware of Lycopodium. Am. Fern. J. 31: 100.

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