Selaginella - Selaginellaceae

Selaginella soyauxii Hieron.

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Plant prostrate or suberect with main stem up to 20 cm long, branched from the base; rhizophores pale yellow, few near base, 5–15 cm long. Leaves dimorphic,pale yellow-green; laterals oblong in outline, apex pointed, base unequal, margin entire or with few denticles near apex, the main nerve evident and terminating in a thickened white ridge, 3–4 x 1–2 mm; median leaves obliquely obovate in outline, terminating abruptly in denticulate arista 0.6–0.7 mm long (about 3/4 the length of the limb), margin entire or with very few denticles near apex, 2.2–2.5 x c. 1.2 mm; axillary leaves resembling laterals, ovate-elliptic, subacute at summit, entire. Strobili 6–8 x c.3 mm; sporophylls dimorphic; dorsal green, oblong-lanceolate, ± 2.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, acute at apex, subtruncate at the base, serrulate particularly near apex, keeled, the keel shortly ciliolate-denticulate towards the apex; ventral hyaline, subtriangular, cochleariform, ± 2.2 mm long, 1.2 mm wide, acuminate at the apex, auriculate at the base, ciliolate-denticulate.

Notes

Derivation

Soyauxii: named after Soyaux whom first collected this fern in Munda, Gabon.

Habitat

Evergreen forest with Parinari excelsa; shaded rocks.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024) Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.Willdenowia, 53 Page 154.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Pages 27 - 28.
  • Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Pages 33 - 34. (Includes a picture).
  • Thardieu-Blot, M.L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.8.Flore du Gabon, Pages 21 - 22. (Includes a picture).
  • Verdcourt, B. (2005) Selaginellaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 20.
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