Selaginella - Selaginellaceae

Selaginella subisophylla Jermy

 

 

 

 

Synonyms

Common name

Description

Plant erect, 9-15 cm, lanceolate or narrowly triangular in outline, rooting at the base or from axils of lowest branches only; Lower primary branches up to 3 cm, once or twice forked, upper branches decreasing to branchlets 3 mm long. Leaves dimorphic, of the main stem and primary branches similar, those of the ultimate branches of two kinds; stem leaves oblong-lanceolate in outline, bordered with narrow hyaline cells, base spinose with occasionally long fine teeth, apex denticulate, 2 × 0.5-0.75 mm; median leaves lanceolate in outline with small pointed auricles, margins long-spinose below, with sharp tooth above, 1.25-1.5 × 0.5 mm. Strobuli terminal on ultimate segments of all branches and maturing ± simultaneously, with single female sporophyll at base and 3-4 male sporophylls and several sterile leaves above; sporophylls dimorphous.

Notes

Derivation

Habitat

Near waterfall, in wet white sand.

Distribution worldwide

See African distribution.

Distribution in Africa

Dem. Republic of Congo, Zambia.

Growth form

Terrestrial.

Literature

  • Kornas, J. (1979) Distribution and ecology of the Pteridophytes in Zambia. Polska Akademia Nauk Wydzial II Nauk Biologicznych. Page 34.
  • Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Page 27.
  • Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Strelitzia 23, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Page 28.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Page 25.
  •