Selaginellaceae - Spikemosses

Photo: P. Ballings
Zimbabwe

 

Description of the family

Terrestrial or epiphytic herbs, annual or perennial. Stems erect or creeping and mat forming, alternate or dichotomously branched, glabrous or pubescent; roots arising basally or throughout the lenght of the stem, mainly from the branch axils. Leaves ligulate, thin, numerous, small, simple with an unbranched central vein, glabrous or hairy, either spirally arranged and ± similar in shape and size or dimorphic and 4-ranked, the lower (lateral leaves) patent, the upper (median leaves) appressed and pointing forwards. Sporangia dehiscent with 2 valves, borne singly in the axils of the leaves, sporophylls arranged in ± compact terminal cones, heterosporous.

Worldwide: 1 genus and ± 700 species, cosmopolitan.

 

Genera

  • Selaginella P. Beauv.
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    Literature

  • Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M.2011Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature.
  • Jacobsen, W.B.G.1983The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.
  • Roux, J.P.2001Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13: 1-222.
  • Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E.1970Pteridophyta. Flora Zambesiaca, 0: 1-254.

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