Clubmosses frequently form dense mats of foliage, which are provided nutrients and water by their fibrous root systems. The roots are very fine and shallow, but are so extensively branched that some species can be problematic when they occur in pastures because they absorb all of the moisture available in their area of growth. This sponge-like activity limits the amount of water available for grasses and other plant life typically consumed by cattle so that any clubmosses present in their vicinity stifle their proliferation. Some ranchers in the American West are beginning to fight back against the clubmoss, utilizing both mechanical and chemical means in an attempt to limit their growth on rangelands and to provide a competitive advantage to desired species.