Selaginella apoda
Selaginella eclipes
meadow spike-moss, sélaginelle apode
buck's meadow spike-moss, hidden spike-moss
prostrate to short-creeping, sparsely branched, branches mostly simple or 1-forked, flat, not articulate, glabrous.
short-creeping, branched, branches 1–2-forked, flat, not articulate, glabrous.
delicate, papery.
papery, delicate.
paired or solitary, lax, flattened, 1–2 cm;
sporophylls ovate to ovate-deltate, strongly keeled, keel dentate, base slightly cordate to rounded, margins with scattered teeth, apex acuminate;
megasporophylls larger and wider than microsporophylls, usually on underside of strobili.
solitary or paired, lax, flattened, 1–4 cm;
sporophylls ovate to ovate-deltate, strongly keeled, keel dentate, base glabrous, slightly cordate to rounded, margins serrate, apex acuminate;
megasporophylls larger and wider than microsporophylls, usually on underside of strobili.
axillary, throughout stem length or restricted to proximal 1/3 of stem, 0.05–0.1 mm diam.
throughout stem length, 0.06–0.1 mm diam.
leaves distant, green, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.35–2.25 × 0.75–1.35 mm;
base slightly cordate;
margins green or with 1 row of transparent cells, serrate;
apex acute, ending in teeth.
leaves nearly perpendicular to stem, green, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 1–2 × 0.5–1.3 mm;
base rounded to slightly subcordate;
margins slightly transparent, serrate;
apex acute.
leaves ovate-lanceolate, 1–1.6 × 0.45–0.7 mm;
base oblique on inner side, rounded and prominent on outer side;
margins green or with row of transparent cells, serrate;
apex straight, acuminate to long-acuminate.
leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1–1.8 × 0.4–0.8 mm;
base rounded to oblique;
margins green, serrate;
apex abruptly tapered, long-acuminate to bristled, frequently transparent, midrib extending into apex.
Selaginella apoda
Selaginella eclipes
Selaginella apoda is the central component of a taxonomically difficult species complex of eastern North America. It is closely related to S. eclipes (see discussion) and S. ludoviciana. Naturally occurring and experimental hybrids between S. apoda and S. ludoviciana have been reported (P. Somers and W. R. Buck 1975; T. R. Webster 1990). Also, some evidence indicates that hybrids may occur between S. apoda and S. eclipes. More studies are needed in this complex.
The species in the S. apoda complex may be best classified under subg. Homostachys of J. G. Baker (1883, 1887), with which they share flattened strobili and larger sporophylls (megasporophylls) that are usually in the same plane as the vegetative lateral leaves. They are, however, treated here with the other heterophyllous species of subg. Stachygynandrum until a reassessment of the classification of the genus Selaginella can be made.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Selaginella eclipes, a member of the S. apoda complex, may prove to be better treated as a subspecies of S. apoda (W. R. Buck 1977). It is recognized here at the specific level to highlight the problems within this species complex. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationships among the species of the complex.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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