This is widespread over the globe but restricted to disjunct regions with cool climate. Within North America it occurs mostly in the transition from temperate to boreal regions. In Ky. records are scattered across Appalachian regions, usually in woods but with somewhat disturbed ground, along paths, scraped areas, or old mines. A record from ROWA is dubious (Cranfill 1980). Lycopodium sensu stricto is distinguished from Dendrolycopodium plus Spinulum as follows (W): strobili borne on elongate, sparsely leafy peduncles borne at the tips of leafy, ascending branches (versus sessile, borne directly above densely leafy portions of upright branches); leaves with attenuate, hyaline hair-tips (versus acute, acuminate or spinulose)