Did you know…Lycopodium powder, made from the spores of club mosses like Lycopodium clavatum, has been used for centuries in pyrotechnics and theatrical displays!
These ultra-fine spores are highly flammable, producing bright, flash-like bursts when ignited…once even used in early photography and stage effects before electric lights.
Other plants have also lit up history:
· Willow wood is traditionally burned to produce the charcoal essential for black powder.
· Sumac and alder have been used to make specific types of charcoal that affect burn rate and brightness.
· Even rice husks and cornstarch are used today to shape and stabilize modern fireworks.
From spores to sparks, plants have always played a role in celebration. Happy Independence Day!
p.s. Don’t try this at home! 😂
#independenceday #fireworks #plantbased