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Lycophytes are an ancient group of vascular plants with fossils from the lower Devonian and are the sister group to all other vascular plants. Only about 1,200 species survive today worldwide. Lycophytes propogate by dispersing microscopic spores produced in sporangia which are often aggregated into club-shaped or conelike strobili. Most have small, scale-like overlapping leaves and often resemble an oversized moss. There are three modern lycophyte families, the club mosses (Lycopodiaceae), quillworts (Isotaceae), and resurection plants (Selaginelaceae). All three families have native Texas species although Texas Isotaceae are rather rare.
