Spikemosses — Order Selaginellales

The spikemosses belong to the division Lycophyta and are dwarf, evergreen, moss-like plants, with branched, creeping stems and small, scale-like leaves. Although they superficially resemble mosses, true moss leaves are delicate, while those of spikemoss are stiff. Siberian spikemoss, Selaginella sibirica, is the sole representative of the spikemoss family in the Canadian Arctic. Upon close examination, pale-yellow to pale-orange spots are visible on the leaves – these are the female reproductive units, called megaspores. The dark green leaves possess a whitish bristle at their tips.