• Their spores contain a high amount of oil.
• Used in the production of baby powder.
• Gametophyte is underground, develops over 15–20 years, and enters into symbiosis with fungi.
• Spores are used in fireworks production.

Lycophytes (Lycophyta) are one of the divisions of vascular plants that reproduce via spores. Despite some resemblance to mosses, they are true vascular plants. Modern lycophytes are represented by three main orders—Lycopodiales, Selaginellales, and Isoetales—and include nearly 1,000 species distributed worldwide.

Biological Features

• They were among the first land plants to develop true roots.
• Examples: Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), Alpine clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum).

In modern lycophytes, the leaves are relatively small and arranged in a spiral around creeping or upright stems. Below the stem, rhizophores, which resemble roots, branch downward. Spores (either uniform or of different sizes, depending on the species) are produced on the upper surface of specialized leaves called sporophylls, which are clustered into vertical cones or strobili.

Like ferns, lycophytes undergo alternation of generations. Their spores germinate into a gametophyte (the haploid phase), which develops antheridia and archegonia for reproduction. After fertilization, the zygote grows into a sporophyte (the diploid phase), completing the life cycle.

Human Uses

Humans primarily use the spores of lycophytes for various purposes:

• Medicine: Lycopodium powder has been historically used in traditional medicine. Officially, its main use is as a talc-like powder (lycopodium powder) to prevent diaper rash in infants.
• Fireworks and Pyrotechnics: Lycopodium spores are highly flammable. When sprinkled onto an open flame, they create a bright flash, similar to a small firework. Historically, lycopodium powder was used in fireworks and theatrical special effects.
• Metallurgy: In metal casting, lycopodium powder was once used to coat molds. When molten metal was poured, the spores would instantly combust, forming a thin gas layer that prevented the metal from sticking to the mold, resulting in smoother castings that required little to no polishing.

Lycophytes, despite being ancient plants, continue to be valuable for their unique properties and applications in various industries.