Selaginella apoda
Selaginella pilifera
meadow spike-moss, sélaginelle apode
resurrection plant
prostrate to short-creeping, sparsely branched, branches mostly simple or 1-forked, flat, not articulate, glabrous.
delicate, papery.
thick and stiff.
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, 5–10 mm;
sporophylls monomorphic, lanceolate-ovate, slightly keeled, keel not dentate, base pubescent, margins transparent to greenish, short-ciliate to denticulate, apex long-bristled.
axillary, throughout stem length or restricted to proximal 1/3 of stem, 0.05–0.1 mm diam.
borne on underside of stems, restricted to base of rosette, 4–5 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 overlapping, ascending, green, elliptic to elliptic-ovate, (2–)3–3.5 × 0.8–1 mm;
base cordate, with 2 ciliate lobes or auricles;
margins transparent, acroscopic margins short-ciliate at base, dentate toward apex;
basiscopic margins entire to scattered dentate;
apex bristle 1/3–1/2 length of leaf blade.
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 peltate, oblique-lanceolate, 2–3 × 0.7–1 mm;
base rounded to truncate, pubescent;
margins green to slightly transparent, inner margins dentate, outer margins entire or slightly dentate;
apex bristle 1/3 length of leaf blade.
(central) stem spirally compact, branched, branches 2–3-forked, prostrate, flat when moist, almost flat when dry, not articulate, glabrous.
= 20.
Selaginella apoda
Selaginella pilifera
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 lepidophylla Mettenius is a misapplied name.
The long-bristled leaf apex of Selaginella pilifera is unique among New World xerophytic members of subg. Stachygynandrum series Circinatae Spring. The closest relative of S. pilifera is S. gypsophila A. R. Smith & T. Reeves, which is from Nuevo León, Mexico, and differs by having obtuse leaf apices. Further studies are needed to determine whether S. gypsophila represents a well-differentiated species or an environmental variant of S. pilifera.
Of conservation concern.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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