You are hiking in a forest and happen upon a plant featuring a central stemlike structure from which sprout many, tiny, leaflike structures. Which of the following would be the most certain means of distinguishing whether it was a true moss or a club moss?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The appearance of spore-producing structures is the most reliable way to distinguish between true mosses and club mosses. True mosses have spore-producing structures that are typically a small stalk topped by a capsule, while club mosses have spore-producing structures that resemble cones. Colors and height can vary within each group and are not necessarily defining characteristics. The presence of seeds or conducting tissues is also not necessarily specific to one group or the other.

You Are Hiking in a Forest and Happen Upon a Plant