Lycopodium

ly·co·po·di·um   (lī'kə-pō'dē-əm)    n.   A plant of the genus Lycopodium, which includes the club mosses. The yellowish powdery spores of certain club mosses, especially Lycopodium clavatum, used in fireworks and explosives and as a covering for pills. [New Latin Lycopodium, genus name : Greek lukos, wolf; see wkwo- in Indo-European roots + Greek podion, diminutive of pous, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots.]

Main Entry: ly·co·po·di·um
Pronunciation: "lI-k&-'pOd-E-&m
Function: noun
1 a capitalized : a largegenus of erect or creeping club mosses with evergreen one-nerved leaves in four to many ranks b : any club moss of the genus Lycopodium
2 : a fine yellowishflammable powder composed of lycopodium spores and used as a dusting powder for the skin and for the surface of hand-rolled pills and as a component of fireworks and flashlight powders