Species

Selaginella kraussiana (Kunze) A. Braun

Photo: P. Ballings
Mozambique

Photo: BT. Wursten
Zimbabwe

Synonyms	Lycopodium kraussianum Kunze Selaginella hortensis Mett.
Common name
Description	Plant widely creeping, mat-forming, up to 50 cm long, ultimate branches ascending, rooting for most of its length. Leaves dimorphic; lateral leaves oblong-elliptic, apex pointed, base rounded, unequal, 3-4 × 0.75-1.5 mm, lateral leaves larger and more spreading than median leaves; median leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, apex pointed, base cordate and unequal, margins finely toothed, 2-2.5 x 0.6-0.7 mm. Strobili situated on short side branches, 5-8 x 2 mm; sporophylls similar but narrower than the median leaves, of one type only.
Notes	Can be confused with S. goudotiana which is more erect, roots are produced from the base of the stem only. S. mitteni is a smaller moss-like species that lies flat against the ground.
Derivation	kraussiana: type specimen collected by Dr. F. von Krauss (1812-1890), a German naturalist & director of the Natural History Museum in Stuttgart.
Habitat	On forest floor in moist evergreen forest, often where a break in the canopy slightly increases the light intensity; extends up to montane regions, erica zone, bamboo and grasslands.
Distribution worldwide	Africa, Azores, Canary Isl., Madeira, naturalised in parts of S Europe.
Distribution in Africa	Angola , Burundi , Cameroon , Congo , Dem. Republic of Congo , Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Ethiopia , Kenya , Malawi , Mozambique , Rwanda , Sierra Leone , South Africa , Sudan and South Sudan , Swaziland , Tanzania , Uganda , Zimbabwe .
Growth form	Terrestrial.
Literature	Burrows, J.E. (1990) Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 28 - 29. (Includes a picture). Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide. Struik Nature. Pages 96 - 97. (Includes a picture). Fisher E. & Killmann D. (2008) Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Pages 46 - 47. (Includes a picture). Fisher E. & Lobin W. (2024) Checklist of Lycopodiopsida (clubmosses and quillworts) and Polypodiopsida (ferns) of Rwanda.Willdenowia, 53 Page 154. Hedberg, I; Friis, Ib & Persson, E (2009) Lycopodiaceae to Pinaceae.Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, vol.1 Pages 13 - 14. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture). Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta.Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report, 13 Pages 26 - 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 24. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta.Flora Zambesiaca, 0 Pages 26 - 27. Tardieu-Blot, M.-L. (1964) Ptéridophytes vol.3.Flore du Cameroun, Page 31. Verdcourt, B. (2005) Selaginellaceae.Flora of Tropical East Africa, Page 18. (Includes a picture).